Gracyn Sawchyn – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #30 Florida Panthers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:00:42 +0000

SUNRISE, FL - DECEMBER 02: Florida Panthers right wing Jack Devine (38) looks on in the first period during a NHL game between the Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers on December 02, 2025 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.(Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 30th (last year - 32nd)
GM: Bill Zito Hired: September 2020
COACH: Paul Maurice Hired: June 2022

Who needs prospects when you’re busy winning Stanley Cups? Ultimately, championships are the goal, and the Florida Panthers have accomplished exactly that by capturing back-to-back titles and making three consecutive Finals appearances. Success at the NHL level, however, often comes at the expense of organizational depth, and Florida’s prospect pipeline has taken the expected hit as a result.

The Panthers entered the 2025–26 season hoping to extend their championship window. Unfortunately, a devastating injury to Aleksander Barkov, compounded by Matthew Tkachuk also missing significant time, quickly derailed those ambitions. While the team may be set to miss the postseason, there could be a silver lining. Although it was not widely reported, Florida’s 2026 first-round pick — previously traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Seth Jones — carries top-10 protection. That protection creates a meaningful possibility that the Panthers could retain the selection and inject much-needed high-end talent into a prospect system that has struggled for depth. It has been five drafts since Florida last made a first-round selection, a drought that is clearly reflected in the pipeline.

At the top of the current prospect hierarchy is 21-year-old Gracyn Sawchyn (126th), who is navigating his first professional season in the American Hockey League after a prolific WHL career that saw him produce 200 points in just 166 games. Alongside him is Jack Devine, a 22-year-old forward and former NCAA standout who has transitioned well to the professional ranks in his first full season, contributing on a strong offensive Texas Stars squad.

Even with the possibility of adding a 2026 first-round selection, Florida’s approach shouldn't stray far from the usual. Bill Zito has built this organization around winning in the present, and once the Panthers’ core players return to full health, maintaining that championship standard will remain the front office’s primary focus.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
Fla	1	Gracyn Sawchyn	C	21	5-11/160	Charlotte (AHL)	35	6	17	23	12
Fla	2	Jack Devine	RW	22	5-11/175	Charlotte (AHL)	63	18	25	43	57
Fla	2	Jack Devine	RW	22	5-11/175	Florida (NHL)	6	0	0	0	2
Fla	3	Sandis Vilmanis	LW	22	6-1/190	Charlotte (AHL)	48	17	21	38	26
Fla	3	Sandis Vilmanis	LW	22	6-1/190	Florida (NHL)	19	3	2	5	4
Fla	4	Linus Eriksson	C	20	6-0/190	Timra (SHL)	43	2	5	7	12
Fla	5	Shea Busch	LW	18	6-3/215	Everett (WHL)	12	13	5	18	10
Fla	6	Matvei Shuravin	D	20	6-3/195	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	21	0	1	1	4
Fla	7	Marek Alscher	D	22	6-3/205	Charlotte (AHL)	52	3	8	11	32
Fla	7	Marek Alscher	D	22	6-3/205	Florida (NHL)	4	0	3	3	0
Fla	8	Kirill Gerasimyuk	G	22	6-2/180	Charlotte (AHL)	19	9	6	2.50	0.901
Fla	8	Kirill Gerasimyuk	G	22	6-2/180	Savannah (ECHL)	7	3	3	2.22	0.918
Fla	9	Michael Benning	D	24	5-9/185	Charlotte (AHL)	57	8	23	31	40
Fla	9	Michael Benning	D	24	5-9/185	Florida (NHL)	18	2	4	6	2
Fla	10	Simon Zether	C	20	6-3/175	Rogle (SHL)	40	1	8	9	12
Fla	11	Cooper Black	G	24	6-8/240	Charlotte (AHL)	42	25	13	2.47	0.903
Fla	12	Mads Kongsbak Klyvo	LW	19	6-2/195	Frolunda (Swe J20)	15	4	10	14	2
Fla	12	Mads Kongsbak Klyvo	LW	19	6-2/195	Frolunda (SHL)	2	0	0	0	0
Fla	13	Arvid Drott	RW	18	6-0/185	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	28	15	10	25	34
Fla	14	Shamar Moses	RW	19	6-1/200	North Bay (OHL)	48	8	10	18	60
Fla	15	Hunter St. Martin	LW	20	6-1/175	Charlotte (AHL)	46	5	8	13	33

1. Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Coming at a time when he was leading the team in assists and tied for first in points, Gracyn Sawchyn suffered a long-term upper-body injury that has left him off the ice since the start of 2026. Sawchyn is at his best when he’s on the puck, darting around the ice. He’s so quick that he often pulls in multiple defenders at once, and if he can’t dangle around them, he more often than not finds his open teammate. Sawchyn, being undersized, 5-foot-10 and 155 pounds, is definitely starting to become more of a factor now that he’s playing against men. He’s an excellent defender with his stick, but he struggles to battle through puck carriers who can shield him off. Assuming he adds some weight, he’ll be even more irritating to play against, as opponents won’t be able to easily shrug him off. Sawchyn’s style translates strictly to a top-nine role, and there shouldn’t be any concerns about his game translating to the wing if that’s what Florida chooses if he makes the NHL. In all likelihood, a middle-six winger is where Sawchyn will end up as long as he can stay healthy and continues to build on his good offensive habits.

2. Jack Devine, RW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Despite his rookie status, Jack Devine sits second on the team in points in Charlotte and is doing it in nine fewer games than the leader. He’s shown why he was one of the NCAA’s top scorers the past two seasons, as well as one of the AHL’s best rookies this year. Both on the offensive and defensive sides, Devine is a solid half-ice player. No trait stands out more than his hockey IQ in the way he is always in the right spot at the right time. The NHL game is played at a pace like no other league in the world, and in Devine’s six-game call-up with the Florida Panthers, he found out the hard way. Devine’s lack of footspeed put him behind the play more often than not as he struggled in a role not conducive to his play style. Without an improvement in this area, it’s hard to see Devine sticking at the next level, especially in Florida. Barring major improvements in his skating, it’s more than likely Devine winds up a bottom-six winger.

3. Sandis Vilmanis, LW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

It’s pretty easy to see why Sandis Vilmanis has played more than just a handful of games with the Florida Panthers this season. After notching 38 games with the Checkers, Vilmanis earned his call-up and has stuck in Sunrise. No matter what line Vilmanis has been thrust into, he hasn’t looked out of place. At 22 years old, Vilmanis already excels at using his 6-foot-2 frame to get inside of opponents and hold onto possession in tight areas. He plays with a bit of an edge, one that Charlie McAvoy was caught on the wrong side of. Not many guys his age know how to use their bodies as well as he does. He isn’t just a physical grinder either; he’s got skill and finesse that can separate him from defenders, giving him room to rip the puck or link up with a teammate. He’s a good skater, and you can trust him in any situation on the ice. With so many guys injured for Florida right now, he should continue to get NHL games, but as they come back, he might get reassigned. He’s not making that decision easy for head coach Paul Maurice. Vilmanis has real middle-six potential and will be a feature of the Panthers by next year if not sooner.

4. Linus Eriksson, C, Timra (SHL)

Eriksson’s second year in the SHL is already much stronger than his first. While the production isn’t there, his skating quickness and physical skills have taken a step and look pro ready. He reads the game at a level above the SHL as well, and his two-way game looks solid as ever. He was also a valuable role player and leader on the Swedish team that won gold at the WJC in Minnesota. All signs are pointing to Eriksson developing into a fine defensive forward at the NHL level. The only drawback is his stalling offensive upside. He’s got a great shot but rarely finds the space he needs to get it off at even strength. His passing and playmaking ability are very practical and projectable, but there isn’t a whole lot of dazzle to his puck skills. He’ll probably never rack up the points in the NHL, but he’ll shut down opposing scorers, force turnovers on the forecheck, and kill penalties. Considering the Panthers have their core locked up long term, Eriksson is exactly the type of bottom 6 role player and locker room presence a perennial cup contender is looking to add whenever they can. Think Oskar Bäck, but with a higher hockey IQ.

5. Shea Busch, LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Shea Busch’s 2025-2026 season has been injury plagued. He suffered an upper body injury in late October and has been out ever since. Before the injury, he was leading his WHL team, the Everett Silvertips, in goals, with 13 goals in 12 games and was playing wing on their top line and power play. It’s unclear as of this writing if and when he’ll return to the Silvertips lineup this season. Before the injury, Busch had been showing good signs of improvement in his offensive game. His wrist shot looked harder and more accurate, and he was being used as a shooter along the wall on the power play. During his draft season, he had been used as the net-front forward because his shot wasn’t nearly as good as it is this season. Busch’s skating has also improved, but it’s not yet to the point of being pro ready. He plays a power forward game, but unless his skating continues to improve, it will likely keep him at an NHL depth forward level. If he can get his skating to a high enough level, he could be a useful bottom six forward.

6. Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA Moscow (KHL)

Shuravin’s development has stagnated this season, unable to maintain a spot on the KHL roster and lacking the production that he showed in the MHL previously. The flashes of offense are still few and far between, showing that he has the skill to create, but not nearly making enough of an impact. If he isn't activating on the half wall, he is usually getting caught flat-footed on the blue line and taking low danger shots or dumping it to a corner. His physical game is coming along well, though. He looks stronger along the boards and is throwing solid hits, but he struggles mightily against power moves on the rush when playing at higher levels. Decision making, once seen as a strong part of his game, has been more inconsistent, as has his ability to make effective breakout passes. When he is in his own end, he is at his best, anticipating play, protecting the net and winning battles. At this point in time, he looks like a quality MHL defenseman, which at 19 years old is fine. But to be more confident with his development, he needs to prove he is capable of playing at higher levels of competition.

7. Marek Alscher, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

With the 2025-26 season nearing its end, Marek Alscher has already eclipsed his point total from last season and has continued to improve defensively as a minute-munching defenseman for the Checkers. Alscher’s game is predicated on making few mistakes and using his size and mobility to shut down attackers in his own zone. Alscher’s largest area of improvement has come from breaking the puck out of his own zone. Whether it has been through a stretch pass or taking the puck himself, Alscher has improved his two-way ability and is progressing towards something more than just a big body on the blue line. If his offense continues to grow, Alscher can likely start to compete for a third-pairing role next season. He and Mikulas Hovorka will likely be battling it out for that spot, with the advantage going to the older and bigger Hovorka. Alscher is only 21 years old with less than two years of pro experience. It’s more than likely he’ll continue to spend a majority of his time, if not all, in Charlotte for the near future as he continues to expand his offensive capabilities and work toward an NHL third-pairing role.

8. Kirill Gerasimyuk, G, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Although nearly a third of the games in which Gerasimyuk has appeared have been in the ECHL, he has largely spent his first year in North America backing up Cooper Black in Charlotte. After years of putting up excellent numbers in the MHL and VHL, Gerasimyuk’s skills have seemingly translated fairly well. In 18 AHL games, he’s 9-6-1 with a 0.902 save percentage, 2.49 goals against average and four shutouts. Gerasimyuk tracks the puck extremely well from side to side and consistently puts on display his lateral agility. Gerasimyuk’s largest area for improvement comes from his lack of rebound control. He’ll often have to generate multiple saves from one shot because he isn’t swallowing pucks or deflecting them to the corners. Teams that are crashing the net can often get second chances in high-danger areas against Gerasimyuk. His athletic ability in net gives his team the opportunity to steal games, but until he shows more consistency and rebound control, he projects more as a fringe NHL backup.

9. Michael Benning, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

From his first season in the AHL to his second, Mike Benning’s point production jumped 14 points in 18 fewer games. Now in his third year, Benning’s point totals have so far plateaued. Benning is still producing at more than a 0.5 point per game pace; however, it’s likely not enough to overlook his small stature. Benning is Charlotte’s most utilized defenseman, except on the penalty kill. He’s a threat from the point to score and leverages that to be an effective passer. He times his pinches in the offensive zone well to hold possession for his team, and his skating ability allows him to do so without getting caught going the other way. Unsurprisingly, he struggles against larger opponents who can shield him from the puck, which is the majority of his competition. Benning is not the offensive dynamo where you ignore his defensive inadequacies. There may be an NHL team that can find a role for Benning, but it’s more likely than not that he will be a career AHLer.

10. Simon Zether, C, Rogle BK (SHL)

Zether is still having a bit of a tough time figuring out who he is as a player in his third season of pro hockey. There isn’t much about his game that sticks out as projectable or screams “NHL player”. Still, he’s only 20 years old. There is still plenty of time for an epiphany, and Zether has tools to be hopeful about. Firstly, he puts his 6-foot-3 frame to good use to shield pucks from defenders. He’s a quick skater for a forward his size, and his hands are decent, too. While I wouldn’t consider him a strong two-way player, his positional awareness and work rate are quite good. The drawbacks are the lack of a strong physical game, a fairly SHL-average hockey sense, and a lack of high-end offensive tools. He has a tendency to defer a lot of defensive and offensive responsibilities and fade into the background. While that doesn’t necessarily sound encouraging, Zether was always going to be a long-term project who needs to marinate overseas for a few years. If he can lean into his size and start throwing his weight around more, there’s an outside chance he could fashion a career as a bottom line checking forward in the NHL.

11. Cooper Black, G, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

The massive netminder out of Dartmouth has been solid in his first season as an AHL starter, and he looks like he could end up being a serviceable back-up for the Panthers, who really lack serviceable depth beyond this year.

12. Mads Kongsback Klyvo, LW, Frolunda (SHL)

The big winger with solid skating ability projects as a future bottom six option thanks to his physical tools and two-way awareness. First, he’ll have to establish himself as an SHL regular.

13. Arvid Drott, RW, Djurgardens (SHL)

A similar player to Klyvo; a big winger with strong skating ability who can be impactful away from the puck. Drott also profiles best as a future bottom six fixture. His offensive numbers have improved in the Swedish U20 league this year.

14. Shamar Moses, RW, North Bay Battalion (OHL)

It’s been a step back for Moses this year in his draft year plus one. His skating continues to need to improve and there’s a need for him to be more consistently physically engaged.

15. Hunter St. Martin, LW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

St. Martin was a breakout star in last year’s WHL playoffs as he helped Medicine Hat capture a WHL championship. This year, the big winger has been a depth piece as a first-year pro.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #32

Josh Bell — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:41:21 +0000

240402 Djurgårdens Linus Eriksson under uppvärmningen inför semifinal ett i Hockeyallsvenskan mellan Djurgården och Mora den 2 april 2024 i Stockholm.
Foto: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN / kod JZ / JZ0506

Prospect System Ranking – 32nd (Previous Rank - 32nd)
GM: Bill Zito Hired: September 2020
COACH: Paul Maurice Hired: June 2022

The Florida Panthers are fully committed to chasing a third straight Stanley Cup Final appearance—and potentially back-to-back championships. But as has been the case in recent years, their success in the present has come at a steep cost to their future.

Already operating with one of the league’s thinnest prospect pools, Florida once again skipped the first round of the NHL Draft for the fourth consecutive year. With no trades to move back into the early rounds, the Panthers didn’t make a pick until the fourth round of the 2025 draft.

That potential reality didn’t stop them from doubling down at this year’s trade deadline. Florida sent its 2026 first-round pick and top goaltending prospect Spencer Knight to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for veteran defenseman Seth Jones. Barring any 2026 trades, the move will push their streak to five years without a meaningful early-round addition to the system.

As a result, there’s been little change in their prospect pool from May 2025. Mackie Samoskevich has officially graduated, leaving just two players in McKeen’s top 200: 2023 second-rounder Gracyn Sawchyn, who put up 200 points in 166 WHL games and is poised to make the leap to the pros. Meanwhile, Jack Devine, who capped off a productive NCAA career with 163 points in 162 games at the University of Denver, has now turned pro and offered a strong Calder Cup playoff stint.

Beyond that, the system is filled with long shots and depth hopefuls.

With that in mind, it’s full steam ahead for GM Bill Zito, who has clearly prioritized maximizing the club’s current championship window. For the Panthers, the mandate is clear: leverage every asset to win now—even if it means leaving the cupboard bare.

Florida Panthers Top-15 Prospects

1. Gracyn Sawchyn

Gracyn Sawchyn had little left to prove after a nearly 80-point season in his final year of junior eligibility. There’s no question he’s an effective junior scorer with some edge but now comes the next step in his career with the opportunity to play for the Charlotte Checkers. Sawchyn is very pesky in pursuit of the puck carrier and is, overall, a very tough player who is hungry for goals. Florida has the unique advantage of having Brad Marchand to mentor Sawchyn, given that the two have some similar elements stylistically, and Sawchyn could likely benefit from working with a player of the same archetype. If Sawchyn can reduce the turnovers and become a more efficient player, he will no doubt slot into Florida’s bottom six eventually. This year, Sawchyn should try to bulk up from his current sub-160-pound frame to translate the physical aspects of his game into a men’s league.

2. Jack Devine

After leading the NCAA in scoring last year and finishing seventh in nationwide scoring the year before (as well as back to back showings as a Hobey Baker finalist), it is easy to see why Jack Devine is one of Florida’s top prospects. The 2022 seventh-round pick won two national championships in Denver and slid right into the Charlotte Checkers lineup after the Pioneers’ season was done last year. Devine is an excellent puck distributor with high-end hockey IQ but also is not afraid to drive the net. One aspect that Devine needs to improve is his skating, as he can end up chasing the play at times, particularly on the forecheck. If he can add a gear or two to his skating speed, he should be able to contribute as a bottom six forward in Florida. For this season, he will continue his development in the AHL.

3. Linus Eriksson

Injuries and playing a constant game of “catch up” in the HockeyAlssvenskan made for a very tough D+1 season for Eriksson. He was eventually loaned to Timrå in the SHL to close out the year, but he had to work hard just to stay afloat in a bottom six role. That being said, there is nowhere to go but up for the Stockholm native. Eriksson is a smooth skater and a sneaky good finisher. He plays a physical and intelligent two-way game. He supports his line mates off-puck both offensively and defensively. He’s a leader, something many guys in the Panthers organization are. He is not the flashiest or highest upside prospect, but teams who are all in on their core like the Panthers need some solid, bottom six center depth like Eriksson their pipeline. The next step is to come back to the SHL with a vengeance (and a clean bill of health) and to get a full season’s worth of reps in.

4. Matvei Shuravin

Florida’s 2024 third-round pick, Matvei Shuravin, made steady progress this season, especially in his defensive play. He reads threats well and shuts down chances before they develop, with improved timing and angles leading to a tighter defensive game. His skating also took a leap, generating more speed and power through each stride. With possession, he’s more confident and willing to rush pucks up with his feet, but his decision-making remains a major concern. He often forces low percentage passes, mishandles breakouts, and tries to do too much in transition. Shuravin needs to become more disciplined and make smarter choices with the puck. While he has shown growth, the expectation was that he would gain more VHL experience this year, and he looked disengaged in the MHL at times. A move to the pro level next season is necessary for his development. Long term, he projects as a bottom-four shutdown defenceman but must refine his puck play to succeed in the NHL.

5. Sandis Vilmanis

Sandis Vilmanis found decent success in his first pro season with Charlotte, scoring 27 points in 61 games playing 13 minutes per game. He’s got tons of skill, as seen when carrying the puck in transition, where he combines head fakes with slick stickhandling to sneak by defenders. Sandis is also effective at dangling in the offensive zone in a more lateral sense to create open lanes for his teammates and drive to the net. His forechecking and defensive game are both passable, but there’s no denying that if he makes the big leagues, it’ll be as a skill player. For that reason, it’ll be a little tougher to crack the NHL roster given the talent the Panthers already have, but Vilmanis is still a few years out, so a spot could emerge. This year, Vilmanis will likely be entrusted with a top six forward role on Charlotte, so better production is to be expected. This year will be a telling one whether Vilmanis will be able to hit another gear.

6. Michael Benning

Michael Benning’s point totals spiked last year, showing his commitment to improvement, showing fixes to his game year after year. Standing at just 5-foot-9 and playing as a defenceman, Benning still has an uphill battle just to secure an NHL roster spot, but he does have some fun attributes. Benning's compete is very solid in front of the net and when battling for lost pucks, but he lacks reach and strength against larger opponents; he'll likely need a more sheltered role to thrive. Benning possesses a cannon of a shot, able to beat goalies frequently by teeing up from the point, also forcing defenders to respect it and play tighter defence. Benning frequently uses his feet and activates deep in the zone to find backdoor opportunities or passing lanes with the puck. What was once a long shot upside swing by the Cats is looking more and more like a future depth roster player.

7. Marek Alscher

Alscher made his pro debut last season with the Charlotte Checkers and fit what we've come to expect from him: a solid defensive presence, good mobility for a larger guy, and safe decision-making with the puck. His limited point totals in the AHL are to be expected; however, he does make an effort to pinch at the blue line and tries to make plays. At this point in his development, the Panthers likely want to see Alscher take on a minute-munching role in the AHL next year. Marek’s use of physicality to knock forwards off balance and win net-front battles also makes him an attractive option for a future bottom-pair NHL role, but his limited offence puts a limit on his ceiling. 2025-26 will be a key year for him to prove he can be a consistent defensive defenceman and perhaps earn a stint on the defending champs’ bottom pair should any injuries sideline Kulikov or Mikkola.

8. Hunter St. Martin

There were probably times this season where St. Martin had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. His shooting ability is his strongest asset, and he got plenty of opportunities to show that off following passes from frequent linemate Gavin McKenna, who is one of the best playmakers that the WHL has ever seen. If anything, it's kind of surprising that St. Martin finished with only 39 goals on the year. He can bury chances from medium range as easily as he can from the real prime spots. Right now, no other single piece of his skill set comes close to the impressiveness of his finishing ability, but his mother, Susan, is a former Olympic figure skater who then became a power-skating coach, so there are justifiable hopes that his mobility will keep improving as he continues to develop. St. Martin still has a long way to go, but within Florida’s shallow prospect pool he’ll receive opportunities to work his way up.

9. Mads Kongsbak Klyvø

Kongsbak Klyvø really caught fire in the second half of the season with Frölunda J20 and looked like the type of player that teams trip over themselves to draft. Big, fast, skilled, and smart. He fit right in with Frölunda’s fast-paced, rush-attack heavy style. His vision and puck management as a rush QB was remarkable. While the ingredients of a modern power forward are present, a key one still needs development: physicality. MKK has a big body but doesn’t play heavy. He doesn’t leverage his size in puck battles or to attack the middle as often as you’d like, either. His skating helps him annoy puck carriers on the forecheck and when backpressuring, but he’s fairly low event away from the puck. Kongsbak Klyvø is still quite raw and will need plenty of time to refine his finesse and develop that grit and sandpaper element to his game. Expect him to split time between the U20 level and the SHL next season.

10. Arvid Drott

The Panthers definitely had a checklist in mind when drafting out of Sweden in 2025. Much like Mads Kongsbak Klyvö, Drott plays a heavy, north-south style of hockey that seems to embody the Florida style of play. Drott is a speedy, physical winger with legitimate goal scoring upside. He can rip the puck, he goes to the net, and he can bang home rebounds with the best of them. He doesn’t have the ability to make high levels plays or pick apart defences on his own, but he’s great at catching passes in speed, making him an excellent target in transition for a rush attack. Provided his ability to read and react to play away from the puck continues to improve in time (and that he gets an opportunity to play a meaningful role with a pro team in Sweden), Drott could be a fantastic value add for the defending Stanley cup champions. Drott will be back with Djurgarden’s U20 team next year and is poised to take on a top six role with them.

11. Shea Busch

There is no Busch Light version of Shea Busch. His strength is his strength and there is no easy way to move him off the puck or away from the net. He’s refined his skills to score goals off deflections and in dirty areas because there is no going around a defender, just through. After moving to Everett midseason last year, Busch will have a full year in the WHL to show why his physically imposing playstyle is simply effective.

12. Simon Zether

Zether spent most of his draft year in the SHL, although this year was loaned out to Västerås IK in the HockeyAllsvenskan. He only played 25 games there due to injury, where he picked up 12 points. He’s a defensive-minded center who uses his frame and reach to shut down attackers. His offence is limited by his skating and overall speed. He should be back with Rögle BK in the SHL, getting consistent playing time.

13. Shamar Moses

Moses is a rare breed of big power forward and playmaker. He’s dangerous off the half-wall and can thread the needle. He plays both ends of the ice well, getting involved defensively with a stick to intercept the passing lanes he exploits on the other end. Moses struggled at the tail end of the season with North Bay, but if he can improve his overall skating, he could end up leading the way for the Battalion next year.

14. Kirill Gerasimyuk

Kirill Gerasimyuk has spent the past few seasons bouncing between the MHL and VHL, putting up very solid numbers. He signed a two-year ELC on July 1, making the jump from the VHL to the AHL. Gerasimyuk is a very agile goaltender who tracks the play well from side to side. He should be one of the featured goaltenders in Charlotte, and if the jump proves too large, he may spend more time in the ECHL.

15. Ryan McAllister

Sometimes, the most brutal injuries are when they happen at the most pivotal times. Ryan McAllister, an undrafted free agent, was piecing together a point-per-game season with Charlotte in the AHL before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Despite being undersized, McAllister has still put up points at every level and will have one more chance to show he belongs next season in Charlotte before his ELC expires.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 15 Affiliated Prospects

Wed, 14 May 2025 19:57:22 +0000

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 08: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) gets tripped up by Florida Panthers right wing Justin Sourdif (24) in the first period during game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at Amerant Bank Area in Sunrise, Fla. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire)

Subscribers can download the PDF in subscriber downloads. Florida 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #32

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 13:00:33 +0000

_{PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 26: Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) warms up before the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Florida Panthers on January 26, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 32nd (Previous Rank - 31st)
GM: Bill Zito Hired: September 2020
COACH: Paul Maurice Hired: June 2022

The Florida Panthers are riding high as the current Stanley Cup Champions, buoyed by the momentum of back-to-back Final appearances. However, that success has come at a cost, as GM Bill Zito has heavily leveraged the team’s future to maximize their chances in the present.

For the third consecutive year, the club skipped day one of the NHL Draft, a lingering consequence of their 2023 trade deadline acquisition of Claude Giroux in 2022. The road ahead doesn’t get easier for the Panthers, as they owe further picks for acquiring Matthew Tkachuk and Vladimir Tarasenko, including their 2025 first, third, and fourth-round selections. Additionally, they sacrificed their 2025 second-round pick to move up and select Linus Eriksson 58th overall in the 2024 Draft. As it stands, Florida will not make a selection until the fourth round in 2025. Then again, that pill is much easier to swallow with a Stanley Cup banner hanging from the rafters.

The Panthers’ prospect situation remains largely unchanged. Even with six new draftees in 2024, the team still only has one prospect in McKeen’s top 200—Mackie Samoskevich. It’s worth noting that Samoskevich has dropped from 77th to the 100th spot, barely holding onto his top 100 status. On a slightly positive note, Linus Eriksson, their recent top pick, now sits as McKeen’s 248th-ranked prospect, giving Florida a second name within the top 250.

Despite these additions, the organization continues to rely heavily on its veteran core, having graduated just two prospects over the past five years. Luckily, Anton Lundell has proven to be a formidable asset, backed up by an impressive playoff performance this past spring, where his 17 points (3G, 14A) in 24 games finished seventh most among all NHL skaters. Meanwhile, Spencer Knight, now on the road to playing games again, remains poised to solidify a backup role behind Sergei Bobrovsky as a waiver-exempt 23-year-old.

Despite their thin prospect depth, the Panthers are in a healthy position with a list of primed veterans ready to keep that Stanley Cup window open for the foreseeable future.

Florida Panthers Top-15 Prospects

1. Mackie Samoskevich

Samoskevich had a terrific first pro season; his offensive production and performance carried over seamlessly from the NCAA level. He led a low scoring Charlotte Checkers team in scoring from start to finish and even earned a few cups of coffee with the Panthers. Samoskevich is an outstanding facilitator because of his high-end vision and ability to make sound decisions when playing with pace. He combines skill with high end speed and most definitely possesses the potential to be an impact top six forward for the Florida Panthers in the near future. While the re-signing of Sam Reinhart likely decreased Samoskevich’s likelihood of breaking camp with Florida, there could still be a very real opportunity for Samoskevich this season. If he earns significant ice time and responsibility, he could be a sneaky Calder contender on a strong Florida Panthers roster.

2. Linus Eriksson

Florida’s second round selection in 2024, we really liked Linus Eriksson at McKeen’s Hockey, ranking him 40th heading into the draft. A strong two-way pivot, Eriksson oozes leadership capabilities, serving as the captain of Sweden’s U18 team this past year. He’s a very versatile player thanks to his strength on/off the puck, tenacity, and speed. The real question is, what kind of offensive upside does Eriksson possess? Could he be a second line center, or does he project better in the bottom six? That remains to be seen. Last year, Eriksson spent half the year with Djurgårdens IF of the Allsvenskan (Swedish second league) and actually performed admirably there. This coming year, he will try to earn more ice time and responsibility as a professional. He will also look to be a solid role player on Sweden’s entry at the World Junior Championships.

3. Matvei Shuravin

Another 2024 draft selection that we ranked highly at McKeen’s Hockey (34th), Shuravin looks like a savvy pick up at the end of the third round. The big defender is highly mobile and offers intriguing upside as a two-way player. He started his draft year very strongly in the KHL but faded in the second half due to some injury and illness issues. At the very least, Shuravin’s length, mobility, and physical potential give him upside as a defensive stalwart at the NHL level. However, we believe that his game has more to offer offensively as he develops confidence. This coming season, Shuravin will attempt to become a KHL regular with CSKA, hoping to sustain the strong start he got off to last year. Unquestionably, he is a long-term project, especially when you factor in contractual issues with the KHL, however, he could be worth the wait.

4. Gracyn Sawchyn

A second round selection by Florida last year, Sawchyn split this past year between Seattle and Edmonton of the WHL. He (and the rights to his younger brother Lukas) were dealt to Edmonton near the WHL trade deadline and he finished out the year with the Oil Kings, but failed to help them make the WHL playoffs. Sawchyn is an interesting prospect because of his intriguing blend of skill and tenacity. He brings a physical element and a pest like approach, but is also highly skilled with the puck and is a high end playmaker. The issue is consistency. Sawchyn is still someone best described as not being the sum of his parts yet. His ultimate upside depends on his ability to be able to put everything together to become a consistent play driver. In Edmonton next year, the expectation is that Sawchyn will become one of the better offensive players in the WHL and help the Oil Kings push up the WHL standings. Anything less than an 80 point season in his final junior year would likely be classified as a disappointment.

5. Justin Sourdif

While Sourdif’s offensive production only improved mildly in his sophomore pro season, the Panthers have to be happy with the progression of his game. Sourdif is most effective when he’s able to play through the middle of the ice and get to the net. He struggled to do that consistently as an AHL rookie two years ago due to strength deficits. But this past year, he was a more consistent playmaker by winning more battles in high traffic areas and maintaining possession through contract. His quick feet make him elusive and his high energy approach makes him an effective off puck player. One would assume that Florida will continue to be patient with Sourdif, even if he received a cup of coffee with the main club last year. He likely returns to the AHL this year, where the Panthers will be looking for him to take another step forward offensively. He’s still on the right path to developing into a quality middle six forward in the future.

6. Jack Devine

How could you not be impressed by the progression of Devine’s game through three seasons with Denver in the NCAA? He has nearly doubled his offensive production each of the first three years and that culminated with him becoming one of the better offensive players in college hockey last season. He finished inside the top ten of NCAA scoring, leading the Pioneers in goals and points as a junior. It’s fair to say that he is ready to turn pro, however he will instead return to Denver for his senior season. When Devine was drafted, there were concerns with his projection given his lack of dynamic skating ability in combination with the lack of a standout quality offensive skill. That’s why he fell to the seventh round despite being previously hyped with the U.S. NTDP. He has since worked hard to get his skating up to par and improvements made to his strength on the puck have allowed him to take greater advantage of his high end vision and IQ. Simply put, Devine is an incredibly intelligent player in the offensive end, with and without the puck. How will his game translate to the pro level? That’s still a bit of a mystery. However, he has improved his odds of becoming a potential impact support player for the Panthers in the future.

7. Sandis Vilmanis

Since entering the OHL through the Import Draft, Vilmanis has been an interesting case. Playing with the Sarnia Sting, he had consistently passed the eye test with his high end skill and ability to play a North/South game. However, the production had previously not added up and been consistent. A midseason move to North Bay appeared to unlock that. With the Battalion, Vilmanis was one of the OHL’s best offensive players in the second half, operating at nearly a goal per game. He dominates near the net front area and improved his play away from the puck, a previous concern for Vilmanis. Sandis’ strong play with North Bay has earned him an ELC from Florida and he will turn pro this year. In the AHL, the focus for Vilmanis will be to continue to improve his off puck play to help him earn touches so that he can take greater advantage of his high-end puck skill and shooting ability. He projects as a quality middle six option in a few years.

8. Michael Benning

Perhaps the most positive thing about Benning’s first pro season was that he showed a willingness to battle defensively and physically, improving his likelihood of being an NHL defender. The offensive skills have never been questioned. Benning has a big point shot and moves the puck well at the point; there is definite upside as a powerplay quarterback. However, the undersized defender has always had question marks about his ability to defend effectively at the pro level. Last year has helped to alleviate those concerns. Are they gone completely? Absolutely not. The next step for Benning will be to improve his offensive production because that is the key to him being an NHL defender. He’s going to have to be a difference maker with the puck as a facilitator to earn an NHL promotion. At the AHL level that should come with experience and greater confidence. Look for Benning to spend another year or two at the AHL level before finally earning a potential permanent role with Florida.

9. Simon Zether

A big power center, Zether was a fourth round selection by the Panthers this year. He plays a mature, two-way game already, excelling in tight quarters. He protects the puck extremely well and is difficult to stop as he pushes his way through the middle of the ice. Zether’s offensive production was very limited at the SHL level last year, however it’s important to note that he played for a deep and talented Rogle team that finished as SHL finalists. In order to earn more ice time and responsibility at the pro level, Zether is going to drop down a level to the Allsvenkan next year with Vasteras. The focus for him needs to be on improving his skating. Can he get quicker and improve his agility to allow him to play with greater pace at the pro level? With the right development, Zether could become a solid middle six option down the line.

10. Ryan McAllister

A high profile signing out of Western Michigan last year, McAllister’s first pro season can best be characterized as up and down with Charlotte. He was in and out of the lineup, but largely produced when he played. McAllister is a well-rounded offensive player. He skates well. He has a quality shot. He is skilled with the puck and has high end vision. He also has a solid motor and competes for touches, something that bodes well for his eventual progression as an offensive player as he bulks up and becomes more equipped to play through contact at the pro level. So why didn’t he play more? That remains a bit of a mystery and it is something that frustrated Panthers’ fans last year. Hopefully this season McAllister can earn a permanent spot in Charlotte’s top six forward group and become a quality point producer at the AHL level. Still only 22, McAllister was young for an NCAA free agent signing and this means that Florida should be patient with him moving forward.

11. Marek Alscher

Anything Alscher brings to the table offensively is simply gravy at this point. Would Florida have preferred to see greater offensive development from Alscher in the WHL last year? Probably. But simply put, it’s not going to be his calling card. Alscher was drafted, and subsequently signed, for his defensive abilities. If he makes the NHL, it will be as a shutdown, stay at home defender for the Panthers. He’ll turn pro next season and could move rapidly through the system if he’s able to adjust to the pace well and make sound decisions with the puck.

12. Josh Davies

A human cannonball, Davies is an ultra-aggressive and pesky forward. He took a positive step forward offensively this year in the WHL, reaching the point per game mark for the first time, however offensive production won’t be his calling card at the next level. He projects as a disruptive, high energy, bottom six option for Florida.

13. Evan Nause

A Memorial Cup champion with Quebec (QMJHL) in 2023, Nause’s pro debut this past year fell completely flat. Seeing your former second round selection forced to the ECHL for most of the year has to be concerning. Can Nause have a better sophomore season as a pro, proving that he can be a future option for Florida’s blueline in the future?

14. Ben Steeves

A free agent signing out of Minnesota-Duluth this past year, Steeves is the younger brother of Maple Leafs’ prospect Alex Steeves. He’s a little ball of energy who loves to play up tempo, bringing skill and tenaciousness. He led UMD in scoring last year and will be entering his first full season of pro hockey. A potential bottom six piece down the line?

15. Wilmer Skoog

Hard work and determination earned Skoog an NHL deal from Florida this year after he played last season on an AHL deal with Charlotte. However, the big forward’s goal scoring prowess may have had something to do with that too. After starting the season in the ECHL, Skoog worked his way up to a key role with the Checkers and ended up tying for the team lead in goals with Samoskevich. He does his damage near the crease and is best as a support player.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #31 Florida Panthers

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Mon, 27 May 2024 19:17:10 +0000

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 26: Florida Panthers right wing Mackie Samoskevich (25) warms up before the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Florida Panthers on January 26, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

The 2023 Stanley Cup Finalist once again returns to the Eastern Conference final as of this writing, with bigger ambitions in mind. It has been a full-on press to finish the job and GM Bill Zito has sacrificed prospect depth repeatedly as a result. The Panthers have no first-round picks in the next two drafts (2024 and 2025) and the 2026 first is conditional. Last season at the 2023 deadline, the 2024 pick was used to acquire rental, Claude Giroux, while the 2025 pick was moved in the blockbuster Tkachuk trade. More draft capital (3rd and 4th round picks) was moved at the 2024 trade deadline to add Vladimir Tarasenko, also likely moving on in the new season. They do not have a pick until the third round in this year’s draft.

It says something about the depth of your prospect pool, when you only have one player ranked in the top 200 prospects. Mackie Samoskevich was their last first round pick back in 2021 and is currentlyranked 77th overall by McKeens. They have had two prospects graduate in the last five years in solid Anton Lundell who has appeared in 216 games for the club and goaltender Spence Knight. Knight enjoyed a strong bounce back season in the AHL after entering in NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. Still young at 23-years-old, and drafted 13th overall, it is encouraging to see him back on a path to fulfill his considerable potential. Now waivers exempt, he should back up Sergei Bobrovsky, who is signed for another two years. The Panthers core remains in the prime with most of their key players 28-years old or younger. Their window to win the Stanley Cup will remain open for a while yet.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Mackie Samoskevich	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	`21(24th)	62	22	32	54	24
					Florida (NHL)	`21(24th)	7	0	0	0	0
2	Gracyn Sawchyn	C	19	5-11/160	Sea-Edm (WHL)	`23(63rd)	54	19	45	64	44
3	Justin Sourdif	RW	22	5-11/180	Charlotte (AHL)	`20(87th)	58	12	26	38	62
4	Jack Devine	RW	20	5-11/175	Denver (NCHC)	`22(221st)	44	27	29	56	20
5	Sandis Vilmanis	LW	20	6-1/190	Sar-NB (OHL)	`22(157th)	60	38	29	67	10
6	Michael Benning	D	22	5-9/185	Charlotte (AHL)	`20(95th)	72	9	17	26	50
7	Santtu Kinnunen	D	25	6-3/190	Charlotte (AHL)	`18(207th)	68	4	17	21	24
8	Ryan McAllister	LW	22	5-10/185	Charlotte (AHL)	FA(4/23)	37	8	11	19	16
9	Mack Guzda	G	23	6-5/210	Charlotte (AHL)	FA(2/22)	2	1	1	2.02	0.930
10	Marek Alscher	D	20	6-3/205	Portland (WHL)	`22(93rd)	57	7	19	26	43
11	Josh Davies	LW	20	5-9/195	Portland (WHL)	`22(186th)	55	36	25	61	91
12	Evan Nause	D	21	6-2/190	Florida (ECHL)	`21(56th)	28	0	5	5	17
13	Patrick Giles	C	24	6-4/215	Charlotte (AHL)	FA(9/22)	66	13	10	23	31
14	Liam Arnsby	C	20	5-10/180	North Bay (OHL)	`22(214th)	60	11	23	34	93
15	Albert Wikman	D	19	6-1/190	Farjestads (Swe J20)	`23(127th)	45	3	17	20	18

1. Mackie Samoskevich, RW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Mackie Samoskevich has had a terrific first pro season; his offensive production and performance has carried over seamlessly from the NCAA level. He led the Charlotte Checkers in scoring all year and even earned a few cups of coffee with the Panthers. Samoskevich is an outstanding facilitator because of his high-end vision and ability to make sound decisions when playing with pace. He combines skill with high end speed and most definitely possesses the potential to be an impact top six forward for the Florida Panthers in the near future. With a few of Florida’s deadline acquisitions set to become UFA’s and the future of Sam Reinhart up in the air, there could be a very real opportunity for him next season. If he earns significant ice time and responsibility, he could be a sneaky Calder contender on a strong Florida Panthers roster.

2. Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

A second-round selection last year, Gracyn Sawchyn split this year between Seattle and Edmonton of the WHL. He (and the rights to his younger brother Lukas) were dealt to Edmonton near the WHL trade deadline and he finished out the year with the Oil Kings. He is an intriguing prospect because of his blend of skill and tenacity. He brings a physical element and a pest like approach but is also highly skilled with the puck and a high-end playmaker. The issue is consistency. Sawchyn is still someone best described as not being the sum of his parts yet. His ultimate upside depends on his ability to be able to put everything together to become a consistent play driver. In Edmonton next year, the expectation is that he will become one of the better offensive players in the WHL and help the Oil Kings push up the WHL standings. Anything less than an 80-point season in his final junior year would likely be classified as a disappointment.

3. Justin Sourdif, C/RW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

While Justin Sourdif’s offensive production only improved mildly in his sophomore pro season, the Panthers have to be happy with the progression of his game. Sourdif is most effective when he’s able to play through the middle of the ice and get to the net. He struggled to do that consistently as an AHL rookie last year due to strength deficits. But this year, he was able to be a more consistent playmaker by winning more battles in high traffic areas and maintaining possession through contract. His quick feet make him elusive, and his high energy approach makes him an effective off puck player. One would assume that Florida will continue to be patient with Sourdif, even if he received a cup of coffee with the main club this year. He will likely return to the AHL next year, where Florida will be looking for him to take another step forward offensively. He’s still on the right path to developing into a quality middle six forward in the future.

4. Jack Devine, RW, University of Denver (NCAA)

How could you not be impressed by the progression of Jack Devine’s game through three seasons with Denver in the NCAA? He has nearly doubled his offensive production each of the first three years and that has culminated with him becoming one of the better offensive players in college hockey. He finished inside the top ten of NCAA scoring, leading the Pioneers in goals and points as a junior. It’s fair to say that he is ready to turn pro. At the draft he fell to the seventh round over concerns with his lack of dynamic skating ability, combined with the lack of a ‘standout’ offensive skill. However, he’s worked hard to get his skating up to par and improvements made to his strength on the puck has allowed him to take greater advantage of his high-end vision and IQ. How will his game translate to the pro level? That’s still a bit of a mystery. However, he has improved his odds of becoming a potential impact support player in the future.

5. Sandis Vilmanis, RW/LW, North Bay Battalion (OHL)

Since entering the OHL through the Import Draft, Sandis Vilmanis has been an interesting case. Playing with the Sarnia Sting, he had consistently passed the eye test with his high-end skill and ability to play a North/South game. However, the production had previously not added up and been consistent. A mid-season move to North Bay appeared to unlock that. With the Battalion, he has been one of the OHL’s best offensive players in the second half, operating at nearly a goal per game. He dominates near the net front area and is playing a more consistent game off the puck, a previous concern for him. His strong play earned him an ELC from Florida and he will almost certainly turn pro next year. In the AHL, the focus for him will be to continue to improve his off puck play to help him earn touches so that he can take greater advantage of his high-end puck skill and shooting ability. He projects as a quality middle six option in a few years.

6. Michael Benning, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Perhaps the most positive thing about Michael Benning’s first pro season has been that he’s shown a willingness to battle defensively and physically, improving his likelihood of being an NHL defender. The offensive skills have never been questioned. He has a big point shot and moves the puck well at the point; there is definite upside as a powerplay quarterback. However, the undersized defender has always had question marks about his ability to defend effectively at the pro level. This year has helped to alleviate those concerns. Are they gone completely? Absolutely not. The next step will be to improve his offensive production because that is the key to him being an NHL defender. He’s going to have to be a difference maker with the puck as a facilitator to earn an NHL promotion. At the AHL level that should come with experience and greater confidence. Look for Benning to spend another year or two at the AHL level before finally earning a potential permanent role with Florida.

7. Santtu Kinnunen, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

Santtu Kinnunen exploded onto the scene last year with a terrific freshman year in the AHL after marinating in Finland for many years. Florida’s patience with the former seventh round pick had looked to be finally paying off. However, this year has been a bit of a step back for him as a second-year pro. It’s been why he has been passed over for other players like waiver claims Josh Mahura and Tobias Bjornfot, or the slightly older Uvis Balinskis as an injury fill in on the Panthers’ blueline. Kinnunen is still quite slight and the consistency of his defensive play has been an issue. Combine that with decreased offensive production and you can see why Florida has gone in other directions. Will he receive a qualifying offer this summer? It seems likely but is probably not guaranteed. Next year will be a big one for him if he does return to Florida, as he will look to prove that he can be a solid two-way option.

8. Ryan McAllister, C, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

A high profile signing out of Western Michigan last year, Ryan McAllister’s first pro season has been up and down with Charlotte. He’s been in and out of the lineup as a scratch but has largely produced when he has played. He is a well-rounded offensive player. He skates well. Owns a quality shot. He is skilled with the puck and has high end vision. He also has a solid motor and competes for touches, something that bodes well for his eventual progression as an offensive player as he bulks up and becomes more equipped to play through contact at the pro level. So why hasn’t he played more? That remains a bit of a mystery. Hopefully next season he can earn a permanent spot in Charlotte’s top six forward group and become a quality point producer at the AHL level. Still only 22, McAllister was young for an NCAA free agent signing and this means that Florida should be patient with him moving forward.

9. Mack Guzda, G, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

A free agent signing out of the OHL last year, Mack Guzda largely impressed in his first pro season, giving Florida hope that big netminder could develop into an NHL netminder. However, injuries have effectively wiped out his second season. He hasn’t played since November and it would appear that his season is essentially over. The 6’ 5” goaltender’s best asset is obviously his size. He is technically sound and covers his posts well, challenging shooters to take away angles. Even when he drops down to the butterfly, he still takes away so much of the net and his quick pads make him tough to beat high and low. The injury this year has definitely delayed his timeline. The focus next year will now solely be health related. Florida will be looking for him to get back to playing 30+ games for Charlotte and then can make an evaluation on his potential NHL future.

10. Marek Alscher, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Anything Marek Alscher brings to the table offensively is simply gravy at this point. Would Florida have preferred to see greater offensive development from Alscher in the WHL this year? Probably. But, simply put, it’s not going to be his calling card. He was drafted (and subsequently signed) for his defensive abilities. If he makes the NHL, it will be as a shutdown, stay at home defender for the Panthers. The 6’ 3” defender moves well, has a great stick, brings consistent physicality, and has a great mind in the defensive end. He is very difficult to play against and it is one of the reasons why Portland is considered a tough team to beat. It was also one of the reasons why Czechia captured a bronze medal at this year’s WJC’s and he was named one of the top three players on the team despite zero points. He’ll turn pro next season and could move rapidly through the system if he’s able to adjust to the pace.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #30

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:00:12 +0000

SUNRISE, FL - JANUARY 21: Grigori Denisenko #14 of the Florida Panthers skates during the game between the Florida Panthers and the Minnesota Wild at FLA Live Arean in Sunrise, FL on January 21, 2023. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire)

Top 20 Florida Panther Prospects

1. Mackie Samoskevich - RW

Selected 24th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Samoskevich has become the top prospect in the organization, thanks in part to the graduations of Anton Lundell and Spencer Knight. Samoskevich has been consistent in his development path, taking a step forward every season from his time with the Chicago Steel and throughout his NCAA career with the University of Michigan. His offensive awareness looks to be his greatest strength, from his navigation of the attacking zone to his ability to find teammates through traffic. He’s a competitive player, who has increasingly become more and more reliable at both ends of the ice. As has been the case since his draft year, he can hang on to the puck too long and get caught, but that seems to be lessening. He has the potential to be a 2C at the next level but may slide more comfortably into a 3C role.

2. Gracyn Sawchyn - C

Sawchyn is a cerebral pass-first center. He thrives when the puck is on his stick, always knowing what his next move with it should be, whether that's continuing to carry it himself for a while longer or moving it to a better-positioned teammate. His hands are top-tier, able to make opposing defenders look foolish, and he is very accurate and responsible with his passes, rarely forcing plays or turning the puck over. While he's not the fastest or most technically adept skater he keeps his motor revved high and his feet moving, which allows him to get a step ahead when he needs to, and he doesn't have to slow himself down at all to make his next move when he's carrying the puck in motion. Those are all advantages that he will need to maintain in order to survive the speed and physicality of the NHL, and how good of a job he does in that regard will determine where he'll settle into his team's lineup. He'll be a key piece for the Thunderbirds next year, maybe even as their first-line center, as they try to pull off the rare feat of winning back-to-back WHL championships.

3. Grigori Denisenko - LW

Drafted 15th overall way back in 2018, expectations were high for Denisenko and have remained fairly high ever since. It’s been a longer path than normal for the prospect, especially one drafted as high as him. He has remained a piece that the Panthers continue to have faith in and hold out for, despite him being in his third season in North America already with little sustained success to show for it. After a slow start in years one and two, he seemed to have taken a step forward last season with the Charlotte Checkers. He still has that skill that caused excitement years ago, especially with his quick hands and sharp turns, and he’s a firecracker on the ice. His decision-making can be concerning at times but has improved during his time in the AHL. At this point, his ceiling has dropped and it’s hard to see him as more than a bottom-six, contributing winger.

4. Justin Sourdif - RW

After two successful seasons in the WHL, Sourdif was rewarded with a selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, 87th overall. He continued a very strong WHL career for three more seasons, capping it off with a WHL Championship in 2021-22. Last season, he made the jump to the AHL where he didn’t pop as he had in the Dub, but he wasn’t far off either. The forward has a never-give-up attitude mixed with excellent speed, enabling him to win most races to the puck. His puck protection and possession are very strong, never wanting to give up the puck to his opponents. He’s also effective at both ends of the ice, making him even more dynamic. He has the makings of a solid third liner and a penalty-killer in the NHL but needs to build more strength and get more comfortable in the AHL first.

5. Aleksi Heponiemi - C

The wait for Heponiemi has been a very long one. Drafted way back in 2017, the forward has yet to truly break into the NHL, despite seeing time in the top league during each of the past three seasons. Heponiemi was a very exciting prospect heading into the draft, coming over to the WHL in 2016-17 and

winning Rookie of the Year. He played one more season with the Swift Current Broncos and put up a very impressive 118-points. He followed that with a big year in the Liiga, leading all rookies in points (46) before heading to the AHL in 2019-20. Heponiemi has struggled to truly find that dominance that he had in other leagues, looking more like a bottom-six contributor versus a potential offensive catalyst. He’s still a very strong playmaker, but his size (5-10”, 154 pounds) has contributed to his struggles in carving out an NHL role for himself. This summer, he signed with EHC Biel-Bienne in the Swiss National League and he remains unsigned by the Panthers as of this writing, putting his NHL future in serious question.

6. Michael Benning - D

Another player of smaller size in the Panthers system, Benning had a dominant career in the AJHL, leading the league in points from a defender in both of his seasons and being named the Top Defender in both the AJHL and CJHL in his final year. After being drafted in 2020, 95th overall, he made the jump to the NCAA with the University of Denver. After taking the first season to get comfortable, he found his way back to his dominating ways in 2021-22, leading Denver to an NCAA Championship and earning Tournament MVP in the process. The 5-9”, 181-pound rearguard truly shines in his transition game, dictating the play and pace of his team from his own end. He’s fearless with the puck and has a level of creativity that allows him to create chances in the offensive zone. The transition to the next level will be tough with his size, but he has the tools to succeed.

7. Evan Nause - D

Nause was a polarizing prospect throughout his draft year and that hasn’t changed as a drafted prospect. His draft year was solid, earning him a nod to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team and he then took a step forward when given an expanded role in 2021-22. His progression last season wasn’t as pronounced, but the Remparts were Memorial Cup Champions and Nause’s development is still on the right track and trending up. He has good size and looks like he could develop into a solid two-way presence. He reads the play very well, anticipating passes and cutting off lanes. He plays with a very calm demeanour. That can be an issue at times as he can appear to not play with urgency. He’s still fairly raw, but he has good mobility and the tools to be effective in his own end. He could be a bottom-of-the-line-up option that bounces between the AHL and NHL.

8. John Ludvig - D

After being passed over in the 2018 NHL Draft, the Panthers bet on Ludvig in 2019, selecting him 69th overall. He was coming off an 18-point season, more than double his previous total. In 2019-20, he returned to the Portland Winterhawks as the captain and exploded for a 62-point season and was named a First Team All-Star in the league. That was all the Panthers needed to see to sign him to his entry-level deal. Unfortunately, it’s been a tough road for the defender since then with several injury setbacks. He seemed on a path to be a physical, contributing rearguard who plays a mistake-free game. With his injuries and the impact on his development, it remains to be seen where he goes from here. Last season saw him get back on track a bit, so it’s up to the Panthers how they want to continue with his development.

9. Albert Wikman - D

There will always be a place in the NHL for steady, no frills, defensive defensemen, and Wikman fits that bill perfectly. He's a new age type of defender though, foregoing the outdated priorities of pugnacity and brawn in exchange for smarts and skating ability. Being able to defend an opposing player one-on-one is much harder than it looks, but you would never know it by watching him because he does it so confidently and casually. He always seems to be in control and has a very businesslike approach about his game. Pressure doesn't seem to faze him, and he rarely panics when the ice is tilted against his team. Without the puck he is very advanced with his positioning, angling and tie-ups, and when he does get it, he is capable on breakouts, as his outlet passes are clean and he's not afraid to skate it out himself. If he were a little bigger, a little more mobile, or a little bit of both, he'd project more as a number two defender than a number four, which is how he looks now. Wikman will never put up big point totals but will still make a positive difference in the win column.

10. Mack Guzda - G

The Panthers have Spencer Knight in net for the foreseeable future, but having another goaltender or two in the system is never a bad thing. Passed over through every NHL Draft he was eligible for, the Panthers signed Guzda as a free agent in February, 2022 while he was in the midst of a strong fourth and final OHL season, putting up a .915 save percentage. He stepped into the AHL last season and performed well as a rookie, playing fairly significant minutes. He’s intelligent, twice winning the Ivan Tennant Award as the Top Academic High School Player in the OHL. He’s got the size at 6- 5”, 216 pounds, the technical ability, and the ability to track pucks, and while he’s not going to be stealing Knights’ spot any time soon, he could fit well behind him moving forward.

11. Santtu Kinnunen - D

Florida had to be very patient with Kinnunen after drafting him in the 7th round of 2018. He finally came over to North America last year and the results were great as he finished second in defensive scoring for Charlotte. As an older prospect, the window of opportunity is probably small, but his puck moving ability is impressive and he could quarterback a powerplay in the future.

12. Logan Hutsko - RW

Even though Hutsko remains an RFA as of this writing and has signed in the SHL for the coming season, he remains someone to be hopeful for. The undersized forward has the skill, he just needs to gain confidence playing against men and the SHL should be great for his development.

13. Ryan McAllister - LW

One of the most sought after NCAA free agents this year, McAllister elected to leave Western Michigan after his freshman year. His playmaking ability and vision are his best assets and he could be a real diamond in the rough for the organization.

14. Marek Alscher - D

Alscher has a solid projection as a dependable stay-at-home defender because of his combination of length, mobility, and physicality. He will return to Portland (WHL) for a final junior season with the hope of improving his confidence with the puck.

15. Ludvig Jansson - D

The surprise of the WJC last year, Jansson came out of nowhere to be one of the tournament’s best defenders. Now he needs to show it at the pro level in the SHL where he has recently joined the Lulea program.

16. Jack Devine - RW

A strong complementary winger, Devine finds success thanks to a great motor and a high IQ. He is coming off of a great sophomore campaign at the U of Denver and will look to become one of the better wingers in the NCAA this season.

17. Sandis Vilmanis - LW

Blocked behind some other talented prospects in Sarnia last year, Vilmanis is primed for a breakout campaign in the OHL this year. The talent is there for the Latvian winger. Let’s see what he does with the opportunity.

18. Josh Davies - LW

Davies is like the “little engine that could.” He’s not the biggest, but he is among the fiercest in the WHL. He never takes a shift off and has developed a pest-like reputation. This year the Panthers will need to decide whether he has earned a contract and they’ll be looking for him to improve his offe nsive production to match his high energy approach.

19. Zach Uens - D

A Merrimack College standout, Uens’ first pro year was a disappointment as he failed to stick in the AHL full time and finished the ECHL season with a mere four points in 35 games. The physical tools are still very alluring, but he needs to have a better year to stay relevant.

20. Nathan Staios - D

The Panthers signed Staios after he won the Max Kaminsky trophy, as the OHL’s top defenseman in 2022. Unfortunately, the undersized blueliner struggled in his first pro year. His mobility is a major plus, but the decision making needs to improve for Staios to stick in the AHL this year.

2023 NHL DRAFT: A Review

Chase Rochon — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 14:10:53 +0000

Another long year of amazing hockey has come and passed as we oficially end the 2023 scouting season and shift from the star-studded offensive draft class to the defensive-heavy 2024 NHL draft. This year's class was super fun and had the potential to bring the big stars and deep depth that we saw in the 2015 draft. This makes it very difficult to rank the winners and losers as every team acquired some very talented athletes in their organization that should make an impact for many years to come. Some teams acquired some elite star players at draft positions they didn't think would be possible at lower picks and later rounds. Those picks make the difference between good and great drafting by ﬁnding those diamonds in the rough.

NHL hockey operations departments are made up of the best of the best in the industry and have been through more drafts and different case studies over more years than I have been alive, which creates some hesitation in handing out grades for teams that we felt drafted poorly or passed on talent or upside. It is important to remember that teams take into consideration so many intangibles and factors outside any eye test or analytics can tell us. They have considerable resources and information networks public scouting teams can only dream of.

Most importantly, people need to remember these young athletes are human beings that just had the best week of their lives and treating them disrespectfully and pre-judging a young man that has yet to fully develop mentally and physically is completely unfair. I think every fan base should be showing love and support for the future players that are going to put in blood sweat and tears for the team you cheer for and go to war against the opposition.

With all that in mind, here is how I think all 32 teams performed at the 2023 NHL Draft based on my own rankings as well as the wonderful team at McKeen’s that I have the pleasure working alongside.

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - DECEMBER 29: Canada's Connor Bedard #16 backhands the puck while Austria's Tim Geifes #21 defends during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on December 29, 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

#1 Chicago Blackhawks (A+)

1 Connor Bedard (F)

19 Oliver Moore (F)

35 Adam Gajan (G)

44 Roman Kantserov (F)

55 Martin Misiak (F)

67 Nick Lardis (F)

93 Jiri Felcman (F)

99 Alex Pharand (F)

131 Marcel Marcel (F)

167 Milton Oscarson (F)

195 Janne Peltonen (D)

It feels very ﬁtting that the number one ranked team had the number one pick this year in the generational talent of Connor Bedard, who is expected to make an immediate impact. Kyle Davidson clearly agrees by bringing in some veteran support this summer in Taylor Hall, Nick Foligno and Corey Perry. This pick was obvious. What makes the Blackhawks stand out is what might be my favourite selection of the entire draft in Oliver Moore at 19th overall, where I, alongside Davidson, was in shock this player was still on the board—followed by selecting one of if not one of the best goaltenders in Adam Gajan. We absolutely loved Nick Lardis at McKeens, and we ﬁnd this to be amazing value in the early third round. Roman Kantserov, Martin Misiak, Alex Pharand and Marcel Marcel are other great pickups to round out the real depth of this draft class for the Blackhawks as they build the next generation in Chicago.

#2 Columbus Blue Jackets (A)

3 Adam Fantilli (F)

34 Gavin Brindley (F)

66 William Whitelaw (F)

98 Andrew Strathmann (D)

114 Luca Pinelli (F)

156 Melvin Strahl (G)

194 Oiva Keskinen (F)

224 Tyler Peddle (F)

The Blue Jackets' dreams came true when Adam Fantilli was still waiting for them at third overall, as the rookie Hobey Baker winner would have been selected ﬁrst overall in any other draft. Followed up by his Michigan teammate Gavin Brindley who we at McKeens had ranked #26. William Whitelaw ranked at #39 by McKeen’s, and Andrew Strathmann, ranked #39 by me, are amazing values. I really like Luca Pinelli at #114 and thought it was a great move to trade for the last pick in the draft and select Tyler Peddle, who was in attendance and should have been selected much higher. This will be the draft that could really put the Blue Jackets over the top to be a future contender in the Metro.

#3 Philadelphia Flyers (A)

7 Matvei Michkov (F)

22 Oliver Bonk (D)

51 Carson Bjarnason (G)

87 Yegor Zavragin (G)

95 Denver Barkey (F)

103 Cole Knuble (F)

120 Alex Ciernik (F)

135 Carter Sotheran (D)

172 Ryan MacPherson (F)

199 Matteo Mann (D)

The Flyers got a player with arguably the highest upside in the class in 7th overall in Matvei Michkov alone, which is enough to rank them this high. Aside from whether there is any truth to rumours that he somehow orchestrated his way to Philadelphia, he was genuinely excited to be drafted by the organization. The possibility that he will be coming to play in North America perhaps sooner rather than later could completely alter the landscape of the rebuild for GM Daniel Briere. They followed up by selecting Oliver Bonk, who our Ontario scouts adore at McKeens, including myself. Bonk will continue to develop in London. The Carson Bjarnson pick could age very well as a good young goaltender with a long road of development ahead. Denver Barkey and Alex Cienik are great value picks at 95th and 120th.

#4 Seattle Kraken (A-)

20 Eduard Sale (F)

50 Carson Rehkopf (F)

52 Oscar Fisker Mølgaard (F)

57 Lukas Dragicevic (D)

84 Caden Price (D)

116 Andrei Loshko (F)

148 Kaden Hammell (D)

168 Visa Vedenpää (G)

180 Zeb Forsfjäll (F)

212 Zaccharya Wisdom (F)

Seattle has been consistently one of the better drafting teams since they entered the league, and they continued that streak in Nashville. Eduard Sale is very much a gamble with questions about his compete lvel and lack of production against pros. However, he possesses elite ﬁnishing ability and was dominant against players his own age. He has a very high ceiling that I believe can be developed properly in the OHL, followed by the development team in Seattle. At the end of the day, with such a great prospect pool, you can take a swing for upside at #20 overall and can add a true top-line ﬁnisher for Shane Wright or Matty Beniers. The Kraken continues to favour the CHL and loaded up with more players in Carson Rehkopf, Lukas Dragicevic and Caden Price in the late second round. They had all been viewed as late ﬁrst/early second round talents. Oscar Fisker Mølgaard has the potential to bring some real energy to the bottom six and PK and become a really good role player for the team. I had him ranked at #30th betting on his high motor and relentless pressure with some ﬁnishing ability.

#5 Carolina Hurricanes (A-)

30 Bradly Nadeau (F)

62 Felix Unger Sörum (F)

94 Jayden Perron (F)

100 Alexander Rykov (F)

126 Stanislav Yarovoy (F)

139 Charles-Alexis Legault (D)

158 Ruslan Khazheyev (G)

163 Timur Mukhanov (F)

190 Michael Emerson (F)

222 Yegor Velmakin (G)

Bradley Nadeau was the highest player selected from the BCHL after having a monster year. He was ranked #27 by McKeens, which makes for a good pick late in the ﬁrst. Where Carolina impressed us was how well they drafted in the later rounds picking up some of the biggest steals of the draft in Jayden Perron who we ranked 34th and Timur Mukhanov ranked 98th. As they typically do, Carolina drafted great to add to the loaded prospect pool.

#6 Buffalo Sabres (A-)

13 Zach Benson (F)

39 Anton Wahlberg (F)

45 Maxim Strbak (D)

86 Gavin McCarthy (D)

109 Ethan Miedema (F)

141 Scott Ratzlaff (G)

173 Sean Keohane (D)

205 Norwin Panocha (D)

Draft after draft Buffalo ﬁnds themselves selecting some great players but I think Zach Benson could be the final elite piece they need to take them back to the playoffs and end the long drought. Benson is the smartest player in the draft after Connor Bedard. They followed up with good picks in Anton Wahlberg and Maxim Strbak. I really like the value of Ethan Miedema and Scott Ratzlaff in rounds 4 and 5.

#7 St. Louis Blues (B+)

10 Dalibor Dvorský (F)

25 Otto Stenberg (F)

29 Theo Lindstein (D)

74 Quinton Burns (D)

76 Juraj Pekarcik (F)

106 Jakub Stancl (F)

138 Paul Fischer (D)

170 Matthew Mayich (D)

202 Nikita Susuyev (F)

Dalibor Dvorský and Otto Stenberg could be an amazing one-two punch down the middle in the near future as the Blues shift towards the future and away from the team that won them the 2019 Stanley Cup. I think Dvorsky and Stenberg both have been underrated as they tend to be looked at as “safe picks” - a term that I sometimes hate because it shouldn’t discount the true skill these players have. Because they are viewed as having lower ceilings than some other top names in the class they fell at the draft, and St. Louis took full advantage and selected the best player available. The rest of the Blues draft was very average, not making any poor selections but also not taking any swings on some big names with upside.

#8 Washington Capitals (B+)

8 Ryan Leonard (F)

40 Andrew Cristall (F)

104 Patrick Thomas (F)

136 Cameron Allen (D)

200 Brett Hyland (F)

206 Antoine Keller (G)

The Capitals may not have had the luck they had hoped for in having Michkov fall to them, but they were very quick to the podium to select the NTDP gritty winger in Ryan Leonard. He brings a hard game and that’s no slight on the raw skill this kid has. After this year’s playoffs, NHL teams are looking to mold their roster after the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights and Leonard ﬁts that profile. Many, including myself, expected Andrew Cristall to fall on draft day but to 40th overall was quite surprising and Washington took full advantage, taking some risk on a junior perimeter player. Going into the draft year we expected Cameron Allen to be the ﬁrst OHL player off the board, but after a brutal season his stock plummeted. It’s hard to believe this talented young player entirely forgot how to play hockey and I think the Caps were willing to take this bet at 136.

#9 Colorado Avalanche (B)

27 Calum Ritchie (F)

31 Mikhail Gulyayev (D)

155 Nikita Ishimnikov (D)

187 Jeremy Hanzel (D)

219 Maros Jedlicka (F)

The Avalanche wouldn’t have expected to select Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev with these very late ﬁrst rounders who we ranked 19th and 24th. This is great value at these picks. I ﬁnd it very interesting that they went with a very smart player who has a low ceiling and a high ﬂoor in Ritchie but then took a bit of a gamble on Gulyayev who is the polar opposite with a high ceiling and low ﬂoor. Not having many picks, and not many high ones, they can consider it a win if Colorado can get a couple NHLers from such minimal selections.

#10 Los Angeles Kings (B)

54 Jakub Dvorak (D)

78 Koehn Ziemmer (F)

118 Hampton Slukynsky (G)

150 Matthew Mania (D)

182 Ryan Conmy (F)

Jakub Dvorak has been such an underrated player all season long because he hasn’t been playing due to injury and is not flashy and doesn’t have much of a highlight reel but he might be the best defensive defenseman to come from this draft class. Big frame players like Dvorak are rare and hard to ﬁnd and are typically viewed as underrated even in the NHL because they are never noticeable with the puck. Dvorak shut down all the top players in the U.S. NTDP top line, Dvorsky, Michkov and even Connor Bedard at international competitions. He makes life so hard for attackers and will be a nightmare for goal scorers in the NHL and people will wonder how he was selected so late. The Kings followed this up with good picks in Koehn Ziemmer and Matthew Mania.

#11 Florida Panthers (B)

63 Gracyn Sawchyn (F)

127 Albert Wikman (D)

159 Olof Glifford (G)

191 Luke Coughlin (D)

198 Stepan Zvyagin (F)

Florida was another team that capitalized on an underrated player who slid on draft day in Gracyn Sawchyn. He played on a star-studded Seattle Thunderbirds team and didn’t get the opportunity to play top minutes but that didn’t stop him from putting up over a point per game. He will continue to grow under a great development program as he gains more ice time and expect him to put up monster numbers in the WHL for the next two seasons.

#12 Dallas Stars (C+)

61 Tristan Bertucci (D)

79 Brad Gardiner (F)

125 Aram Minnetian (D)

157 Arno Tiefensee (G)

189 Angus MacDonell (F)

221 Sebastian Bradshaw (F)

Dallas had very minimal draft capital and made the absolute most of it to no one's surprise as they usually do. Amazing value in Tristan Bertucci and Aram Minnetian.

#13 Vegas Golden Knights (B-)

32 David Edstrom (F)

77 Mathieu Cataford (F)

96 Arttu Kärki (D)

192 Tuomas Uronen (F)

Vegas selecting David Edstrom almost felt destined to happen as the last pick of the first round as we expected him to be selected in the ﬁrst round. Great pick for the Stanley Cup winners. Arttu Karki was also my favorite Finnish defense this year and I think 96 is excellent value for a player of his skill.

#14 San Jose Sharks (B-)

4 Will Smith (F)

26 Quentin Musty (F)

36 Kasper Halttunen (F)

71 Brandon Svoboda (F)

123 Luca Cagnoni (D)

130 Axel Landén (D)

132 Eric Pohlkamp (D)

196 David Klee (F)

203 Yegor Rimashevsky (F)

The Sharks drafted the highly skilled forward Will Smith very high, and I know he has gained some real hype over the past few months to get into the top 5 but personally having him just outside the top 10 makes it very hard to justify so much talent and other options at pick 4. This is a take that really could come back to bite me but I just don't love what Smith and Musty bring to the table outside of the high offensive skill that they clearly both have. In terms of value picks I think Halttunen is the Sharks best pick. If he played in London last season, he would have been called on day one of the draft and still has the opportunity to come over next season and be one of the best players in the league right away. The Sharks drafted very well but 13 other teams just did better.

#15 Calgary Flames (B-)

16 Samuel Honzek (F)

48 Étienne Morin (D)

80 Aydar Suniev (F)

112 Jaden Lipinski (F)

176 Yegor Yegorov (G)

208 Axel Hurtig (D)

The Flames had a solid draft and got a player we can expect the be a safe NHLer in Samuel Honzek that was expected in this range. I think Etienne Mornin could be the steal for them. This is a player that is extremely intelligent, and I personally have a lot of faith will continue to have success in his own development each season and could be viewed as a late ﬁrst rounder in the near future. Aydar Suniev at 80th overall is also great value.

#16 Montréal Canadiens (B-)

5 David Reinbacher (D)

69 Jacob Fowler (G)

101 Florian Xhekaj (F)

110 Bogdan Konyushkov (D)

128 Quentin Miller (G)

133 Sam Harris (F)

144 Yevgeni Volokhin (G)

165 Filip Eriksson (F)

197 Luke Mittelstadt (D)

Montréal might be the most talked about team post draft for all the wrong reasons so being dead in the middle at 16 may come as a surprise to most. The dislike for me comes from picks 101-197 where they took seven guys they could have gotten in rounds 6 or 7, and unfortunately some of those picks were in rounds 4 and 5. Jacob Fowler is a good goalie that could be huge for them, with the organization having such little depth in that department. Now Reinbacher who is the talk of Twitter and unfortunately for terrible reasons. The only argument I can understand against him is that Michkov should have been the pick, but there were many question marks surrounding the Russian and his intentions, leaving the Habs in a situation with lots of uncertainty at pick #5. So, they understandably took a player with a lot of certainty in elite defenseman David Reinbacher. He has been the only player under 18 shutting down grown professional athletes and ex-NHLers for two years. If that's not impressive enough he didn't just defend, he also produced higher than anyone in their DY-2 and DY-1 ever.

David has a good head on his shoulders and will develop all the necessary skills to round out his game to become a high-end defenseman who will eat lots of minutes and make a huge impact. He may not put up great offensive numbers or make highlight reel plays. That's ok, he plays defense for a reason. Leave that for the loads of talented players you already have and let Reinbacher make the other team's life a living hell and win hockey games, because that's what it's all about.

#17 Arizona Coyotes (B-)

6 Dmitri Simashev (D)

12 Daniil But (F)

38 Michael Hrabal (G)

70 Jonathan Castagna (F)

72 Noel Nordh (F)

81 Tanner Ludtke (F)

88 Vadim Moroz (F)

102 Terrell Goldsmith (D)

134 Melker Thelin (G)

160 Justin Kipkie (D)

162 Samu Bau (F)

166 Carsen Musser (G)

Arizona may have not drafted our best player available in their slots, but they took an interesting strategy to this year's draft that might have been the best option based on the current state of the team. Dmitri Simashev was our number one ranked defenseman in the class while Danill But has displayed shades of Evgeni Malkin at times. Both played on the same team this past season. This put Arizona in a safer situation to swing on upside and internally develop them together and could very well be a big payoff. Hrabal is the pick that gives some extra value as my personal favorite goaltender in the class. Drafting all players over 6'0" is another interesting strategy that is hard to disagree with. Middle of the pack supports my mixed feelings on the drafting of the Coyotes.

#18 Winnipeg Jets (C)

18 Colby Barlow (F)

82 Zachary Nehring (F)

146 Jacob Julien (F)

151 Thomas Milic (G)

210 Connor Levis (F)

Winnipeg is facing a lot of potential turnover on their roster this season. Colby Barlow makes an excellent pick for the Jets, bringing in a character Canadian guy, on and off the ice, as a key piece to build upon. You can expect Barlow to score lots of goals in the near future. The rest of the picks are very average, so they receive an average grade.

#19 New York Rangers (C)

23 Gabe Perreault (F)

90 Drew Fortescue (D)

152 Rasmus Larsson (D)

178 Dylan Roobroeck (F)

183 Ty Henricks (F)

Gabe Perreault was good value at 23rd as I thought his production this season would lead to him going much higher than he should have and I think this was a good range for him. A smart player who can be a great complement to some high-end skill just like he did with the NTDP. The rest of the picks were not very average.

#20 Detroit Red Wings (C)

9 Nate Danielson (F)

17 Axel Sandin Pellikka (D)

41 Trey Augustine (G)

42 Andrew Gibson (D)

47 Brady Cleveland (D)

73 Noah Dower Nilsson (F)

117 Larry Keenan (D)

137 Jack Phelan (D)

147 Kevin Bicker (F)

169 Rudy Guimond (G)

201 Emmitt Finnie (F)

Detroit's draft was very interesting to me because I find it hard to criticize Steve Yzerman’s picks which have been excellent in the past with some home runs to show for it. Nate Danielson and Axel-Sandin Pellika are great players who will be NHLers and good ones. They just didn't strike me as the types of players Detroit has recently drafted with some hard nose battlers that are going to be warriors. I think it might take a while for either to become impact playoff players relative to some of the skill still left on the board, such as Oliver Moore at pick #9 and still available at #17. They pass with a C as most other picks were good, but just that they were good and not great, where teams ahead of them made some great picks.

#21 Edmonton Oilers (C)

56 Beau Akey (D)

184 Nathaniel Day (G)

216 Matt Copponi (F)

Beau Akey is a good pick that has a good path in front of him to reﬁne his offensive talents and become a threat from the point for the Colts over the next couple of seasons and get a real chance to make the Oilers. Hard to judge a team with such little options at the draft.

Leo Carlsson of Sweden at a practice session during the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship on May 25, 2023 in Riga.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN /

#22 Anaheim Ducks (C-)

2 Leo Carlsson (F)

33 Nico Myatovic (F)

59 Carey Terrance (F)

60 Damian Clara (G)

65 Coulson Pitre (F)

85 Yegor Sidorov (F)

97 Konnor Smith (D)

129 Rodwin Dionicio (D)

161 Vojtech Port (D)

I think passing on Fantilli will be something that will haunt Anaheim for a long time and really hurts their grade even though they are getting a great talent in Leo Carlsson. Unfortunately, I have a hard time seeing Carlsson being the 2nd best player that comes from this class and when they are a top team in the league soon this selection might be the difference between a contender and a champion. Other than that, Myatovic, Terrance and Pitre are solid picks.

#23 Vancouver Canucks (D+)

11 Tom Willander (D)

75 Hunter Brzustewicz (C-)

89 Sawyer Mynio (D)

105 Ty Mueller (F)

107 Vilmer Alriksson (F)

119 Matthew Perkins (F)

171 Aiden Celebrini (D)

Willander was ranked 23rd by us at McKeens and is a great defenseman who happens to be in a star studded offensive heavy draft. I think the Canuks were guilty of drafting for need rather than best player available and that affected the grade. Other than that, there isn’t too much to like in the class other than Hunter Brzustewicz at 75 was a great selection.

#24 Nashville Predators (C-)

15 Matthew Wood (F)

24 Tanner Molendyk (D)

43 Felix Nilsson (F)

46 Kalan Lind (F)

68 Jesse Kiiskinen (F)

83 Dylan MacKinnon (D)

111 Joseph Willis (F)

121 Juha Jatkola (G)

143 Sutter Muzzatti (F)

175 Austin Roest

218 Aiden Fink

Nashville was the host of this year’s draft and advised by new GM Barry Trotz in an interview to take some swings on high upside to add some high-end skill to the prospect pool. Well, they just didn’t do any of that and delivered a mediocre draft outside of top prospect Matthew Wood. What makes their draft so disappointing is that after 10 consecutive picks, the next best value pick was David Poiles last pick in Aiden Fink in the 7th round. Expectations were high and far from reached.

#25 Tampa Bay Lightning (D)

37 Ethan Gauthier (F)

115 Jayson Shaugabay (F)

179 Warren Clark (D)

193 Jack Harvey (F)

211 Ethan Hay (F)

Tampa will ﬁnd a way to develop these players, especially Ethan Gauthier, because that’s what they do best within their system. I just believe they could have done it with the better options available and left talent on the table with every pick.

#26 New Jersey Devils (D+)

58 Lenni Hämeenaho (F)

122 Cam Squires (F)

154 Chase Cheslock (D)

164 Cole Brown (F)

186 Daniil Karpovich (D)

New Jersey was very inactive and didn’t take many swings this year and they are in a situation where they didn’t need to. Lenni Hameenaho was ranked 84 for us at McKeens and was a bit of a reach.

#27 Ottawa Senators (D)

108 Hoyt Stanley (D)

140 Matthew Andonovski (D)

204 Owen Beckner (F)

207 Vladimir Nikitin (G)

215 Nicholas VanTassell (F)

Ottawa did not have many picks and none very high. Hoyt Stanley is the only pick which has had some hype going into the draft and been noticeable this season. I wouldn’t expect anyone from the class to make the roster.

#28 Pittsburgh Penguins (D-)

14 Brayden Yager (F)

91 Emil Pieniniemi (D)

142 Mikhail Ye. Ilyin (F)

174 Cooper Foster (F)

217 Emil Järventie (F)

223 Kalle Kangas (D)

Another situation where good players were selected but when I look at this class, and Emil Jarventie is the best value pick in the 7th round, that is an issue for me. Yes, Brayden Yager is an excellent player with a deadly shot and a good head on his shoulders. It’s hard to give high grades when top 5-10 talents were still available where he was picked. This strikes me as more of a situation where the Penguins scouting staff were left to make the pick, more so than Dubas, and they went with the guy they targetted going into the draft rather than the best player available.

#29 Toronto Maple Leafs (D-)

28 Easton Cowan (F)

153 Hudson Malinoski (F)

185 Noah Chadwick (D)

The Easton Cowan pick is very difficult to grade because it really could go both ways. I understand the pick because you’re getting, debatably, the hardest working player in the class whose development is skyrocketing at a high pace under the teachings of the Hunters in London. You can expect this growth to continue over the next couple seasons. It woudl appear the Leafs aren’t selecting the 28th best player currently and are banking on Cowan being a ﬁrst round talent in 3-5 years, an approach I agree with. The issue I have with this pick is I really think you could have selected him later, and possibly much later. The 2nd round Is still a reach but at least you’re not leaving talent on the table in this deep draft and getting the maximum value out of each pick. I just think this was some poor asset management and the Leafs just focused on getting their guy. Time will be the true indicator.

#30 New York Islanders (D)

49 Danny Nelson (F)

113 Jesse Nurmi (F)

145 Justin Gill (F)

177 Zach Schulz (D)

209 Dennis Good Bogg (D)

Islanders drafted some good leadership in a pair of Captains in Danny Nelson and Zach Shulz. When that is the best thing to be said about the selections that is an issue.

#31 Boston Bruins (F+)

92 Christopher Pelosi (F)

124 Beckett Hendrickson (F)

188 Ryan Walsh (F)

214 Casper Nässén (F)

220 Kristian Kostadinski (D)

Beckett Hendrickson is the only reason they aren’t ranked 32nd.

#32 Minnesota Wild (F)

21 Charlie Stramel (F)

53 Rasmus Kumpulainen (F)

64 Riley Heidt (F)

149 Aaron Pionk (D)

181 Kalem Parker (D)

213 Jimmy Clark (F)

The Wild are the only team that gets an F grade. It’s not because I don't like the players in Charlie Stramel and Rasmus Kumpulainen because they are prospects I had on my personal board, but it’s very hard to justify these picks with the options still available on the board at the time of the picks. These are just too far off the board to not trade back and still get the player you want. We at McKeens ranked both these players as 3rd round talents.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT GUIDE – Two Round Mock Draft

Brock Otten — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 22:05:22 +0000

First Round

1 - Chicago Blackhawks - Connor Bedard (Regina, WHL)

Regardless of whether you believe that the Hawks deserved to win the first overall selection…it did happen. And the timing for the Chicago organization couldn’t have been better as they transition from the Patrick Kane/Jonathan Toews era to the Connor Bedard era. This is a game changer that should accelerate the Blackhawk’s rebuild.

2 - Anaheim Ducks - Adam Fantilli (Michigan, NCAA)

Talk about power down the middle. By selecting the University of Michigan star, the Ducks can now boast a one/two punch at center of Mason McTavish and Adam Fantilli. That likely pushes Trevor Zegras to the wing long term, which might not be a terrible thing considering his struggles at the faceoff circle and defensively. Fantilli is one of the most polished two-way forwards in the league and his speed and strength should allow him to jump into the NHL immediately.

3 - Columbus Blue Jackets - Leo Carlsson (Orebro, SHL)

This is where things get really interesting. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen doesn’t draft a ton out of Sweden (Finnish bias?...lol), however I believe that this would be the best pick for the organization. Carlsson is the most ready to make an immediate impact in the NHL and he would give the Jackets a potential two-way rock to build their forward group around. This is a team who wants to compete soon and turn their fortunes around.

4 - San Jose Sharks - Will Smith (USNTDP)

For the life of me, I just can’t see Mike Grier going with Michkov here. Smith would give San Jose a highly skilled playmaker to continue to build around. He could help to elevate the play of some of the team’s complementary players. He may take a few years in College with BC, but the end product should be a high-end offensive player. Question…would it be shocking to see the Sharks reach for a defender like David Reinbacher here?

5 - Montreal Canadiens - Ryan Leonard (USNTDP)

It really seems like the Canadiens would pass on Michkov should he be available to them. It could be smoke and mirrors, but all signs do point to that fact. So, who do they select? Lots of hype around Reinbacher. I think they’re happy with their defensive depth right now. IMO. I truly believe that Ryan Leonard could be their target. Here’s a forward who can make an impact in a lot of different ways and who plays the power game that Montreal really seems to want to play in the future. Obviously Dalibor Dvorsky could be an option here too.

6- Arizona Coyotes - Matvei Michkov (HK Sochi, KHL)

I just can’t see Michkov falling that far. Yes, there is inherent risk. But the reward is so great. Arizona wants to become relevant again, but they also want to have sustainability. They haven’t shied away from drafting Russians in recent years, and this is a big fish. The timing of his arrival in the NHL should be perfect for Arizona’s inevitable resurgence.

7- Philadelphia Flyers - David Reinbacher (Kloten, NL)

A big, right shot defender, it seems like a sure thing that he’ll be drafted in the top ten, even if he’s our third ranked defender. The Flyers seem like a really good fit for him. Reinbacher is a potential two-way force from the right side who could develop into an all-situations player for Philadelphia and would complement other young defenders like Cam York and Emil Andrae exceptionally well.

8 - Washington Capitals - Oliver Moore (USNTDP)

Would it be shocking to see Moore drafted ahead of Ryan Leonard? I don’t think so. NHL teams put such a premium on true centers and Moore is just that. Watching the Capitals in recent years, it’s obvious that they need to focus on upgrading the speed quotient of this team again and Moore is the best skating player available this year. The range of outcomes for him runs the gamut of Dylan Larkin to Andrew Cogliano, but Moore should play and would fit in well with this roster, perhaps better than some of the power wingers slated to go here. Nate Danielson could be an option here too, especially given Washington’s Western bias.

9 - Detroit Red Wings - Dalibor Dvorsky (AIK, Allsvenskan)

I think one thing Detroit proved at last year’s draft was that they wanted to focus on getting back to being difficult to play against in the future. There is a desire for the full rebuild to be over and it’s now time to focus on getting players who can be strong playoff performers. Dvorsky is raw, but as we have seen internationally, he is a big game player who can potentially grow into an all-situations type.

10 - St. Louis Blues - Axel Sandin Pellikka (Skelleftea, SWEJ20)

One of the top offensive defenders available this year, Sandin Pellikka proved at this year’s U18’s that he can defend too. The progression in his game over the course of the year should have teams lining up to select him given the weakness of the defense crop. St. Louis needs to inject new life into their blueline, specifically in the puck moving department.

11 - Vancouver Canucks - Nate Danielson (Brandon, WHL)

Lots to like here for the Canucks. Danielson is a strong candidate to be an all situations top six center for them in the future. And let’s face it, the center depth in the organization isn’t amazing right now. There is a need for a player like Danielson. He’s really the last player in this grouping of ranked players who is likely to stick down the center, so I’d expect all these guys to go high.

12 - Arizona Coyotes (via Ottawa) - Matthew Wood (UConn, NCAA)

Skating concerns be darned, someone is going to bite on Matthew Wood early in the first round. He’s just been too good the last few years. As we’ve seen with Jason Robertson, skating development can occur as conditioning improves. Wood has so many other good qualities and he would be the perfect complementary player for them in the future.

13 - Buffalo Sabres - Dmitri Simashev (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL)

Our top ranked defender, can you imagine a future where the Sabres have both Owen Power and Dmitri Simashev? The massive defender skates well and should at least develop into a high end stay at home type. The Sabres haven’t been scared off by taking Russian players too. This seems like a great fit.

14 - Pittsburgh Penguins - Daniil But (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL)

One of the things Pittsburgh needs to do at the draft this year is focus on selecting players with upside. For far too long, the focus was on safer prospects and the combination of that, plus a lack of first round selections, has left the system in disarray. Insert Daniil But, a big winger who could end up being an Evgeni Malkin kind of player thanks to his combination of power and skill. The Penguins have had some success drafting out of Russia, so I don’t see it scaring them off.

15 - Nashville Predators - Tom Willander (Rögle, SWE J20)

One of the draft's biggest risers, Willander was so good in the second half, and it has caused many (including us) to shift their opinion of his potential. He now looks like a lock to be a top four, right shot defender. I see Nashville looking at adding a potential defender at this spot and perhaps they go more offensively oriented with Gulyayev or Dragicevic, but the well-rounded profile seems to fit them more.

16 - Calgary Flames - Zach Benson (Winnipeg, WHL)

The fall for Benson ends here with Calgary selecting him. We love Benson, but there’s definitely some concern that NHL scouts are concerned with the fact that he’s undersized and not a dynamic athlete. However, his playmaking ability would really help the Flames moving forward and I think they need to gamble on his upside. I could also see Calgary opting for an offensively oriented defender here too.

17 - Detroit Red Wings (via New York Islanders) - Mikhail Gulyayev (Avangard Omsk, KHL)

One of the top skating defenders available this year, Gulyayev would be a great fit in the Detroit system. The Red Wings have a lot of solid young defenders in their system, but none have the skating ability, shot, and powerplay quarterbacking potential that Gulyayev possesses. Getting him and Ryan Leonard in the first round would be terrific for an organization trying to take that next step and sustain it.

18 - Winnipeg Jets - Colby Barlow (Owen Sound, OHL)

Obviously, there are a lot of different routes that the Jets could take here, but Barlow makes a lot of sense. The high-end goal scorer is also very versatile and plays a powerful North/South game. Maybe there are some similarities between him and Rutger McGroarty, but this Jets team wants to have multiple players of that ilk on their roster.

19 - Chicago Blackhawks (via Tampa Bay) - Gabe Perreault (USNTDP)

Where Perreault goes on draft day will be really interesting. His athletic tools aren’t terrific, but you can’t argue with the success he had this year. He’s just such an intelligent and creative player. With your new team identity forming around Connor Bedard, Perreault seems like an amazing fit to play with him in the future. Plus, Perreault is a bit of a local kid, having grown up as part of the Chicago Mission program.

20 - Seattle Kraken - Samuel Honzek (Vancouver, WHL)

The Kraken wouldn’t have had to travel far to get a good look at Honzek this year. After using their top picks on centers in their first two drafts, they opt for a big, skilled winger to play with them in 2023. Honzek’s upside is excellent, and he is actually someone who could go much higher than this.

21 - Minnesota Wild - David Edstrom (Frölunda, SWE J20)

Doesn’t this just scream a Minnesota Wild selection. Edstrom was a late season riser thanks to the progression he showed over the year from an offensive perspective. He has both a solid floor and a high ceiling and given the draft’s lack of true centers, I expect him to go pretty high on draft day.

22 - Philadelphia (via Columbus, via Los Angeles) - Eduard Sale (HC Kometa Brno, Czechia)

Philly is up for the second pick of the first round, acquired in the Provorov trade. After adding a defenseman to replace him with the seventh pick, they opt for the best forward available on the board. That is a quality playmaking winger with size in Eduard Sale, currently ranked #17 by McKeen's. Sale could definitely go higher than this too, so the value is terrific.

23 - New York Rangers - Cal Ritchie (Oshawa, OHL)

Cal Ritchie grew up playing for the Oakville Rangers, so this just seems like a great story. Tons of pictures of him wearing Rangers gear at a young age! But this would be a great pick for New York for a lot of reasons. Ritchie is one of the most intelligent forwards available this year and while his OHL season wasn’t outstanding, his international performances were.

24 - Nashville Predators (via Edmonton) - Brayden Yager (Moose Jaw, WHL)

Maybe Yager goes higher than this. We’re certainly lower on him than the consensus in the scouting community. However, he seems like the kind of player that Nashville would love to add into their system; the kind of player they’ve been drafting for the last decade or so, helping them to remain consistently strong.

25 - St. Louis Blues (via Toronto) - Quentin Musty (Sudbury, OHL)

We’ve got Musty outside of the first round because of concerns over his feet and wavering compete levels, but given his size and skill package, it seems unlikely that he falls out of the first. St. Louis would be a good place for Quentin, and I could see them being quite interested in him. There’s a need to inject new skill and life into the wing group in St. Louis and Musty has one of the higher offensive ceilings in the draft.

26 - San Jose Sharks (via New Jersey) - Bradly Nadeau (Penticton, BCHL)

The Sharks have focused on drafting some pretty good playmakers in recent years and they took Will Smith fourth overall earlier in this mock. So why not take a chance on a high-end finisher like Brad Nadeau. Nadeau also brings a strong compete level and is someone with a good upside, so long as you believe that the BCHL competition was good enough to truly challenge him this year.

27 - Colorado Avalanche - Ethan Gauthier (Sherbrooke, QMJHL)

A solid complementary goal scorer, Gauthier has a good motor too. There is a need for him to get quicker and consistency was an issue at times this year. However, the Avs are going to want a player who can jump into their lineup in a few years and help them win and Gauthier has a lot of strong pro level attributes already. He scores from between the dots and Colorado missed that a bit this year with so many injuries to those types of players.

28 - Toronto Maple Leafs (via Boston) - Gavin Brindley (Michigan, NCAA)

Kyle Dubas is no longer at the helm, but for now it looks like the scouting staff will remain the same under Brad Treliving. Brindley is the type of player that the Leafs organization has been targeting lately at the draft. His compete level and skating are at the top of this draft class and his offensive upside might be a tad underrated. This is someone who is going to play through the middle six for years to come.

29 - St. Louis Blues (via Dallas) - Oliver Bonk (London, OHL)

The Blues have the luxury of three first round picks this year and that gives them a ton of flexibility. So far in our mock they’ve taken Sandin Pellikka and Musty, so grabbing a safer defender like Bonk could make a lot of sense. A highly intelligent two-way player, Bonk has the bloodlines and the work ethic to help him improve.

30 - Carolina Hurricanes - Anton Wahlberg (Malmö, SHL)

The Hurricanes always seem to align their draft ideals with the amateur scouting community, often selecting independent scout darlings in recent years. Insert Anton Wahlberg. Much like Swedish teammate David Edstrom, he improved massively over the course of the year, learning to use his size and quickness to be a very effective player inside the offensive zone. The athletic tools are going to be very intriguing to Carolina.

31 - Montreal Canadiens (via Florida) - Riley Heidt (Prince George, WHL)

Coming into the year, this pick would have been seen as a steal, but this is sort of where Heidt is projected to go now. I could see Montreal being very interested in Heidt as he possesses similar qualities to other forwards they have drafted recently. How his game ultimately comes together at the pro level remains a mystery, but he has a lot of interesting tools.

32 - Vegas Golden Knights - Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon, WHL)

Molendyk is not only one of the smarter defenders available this year, but he’s also one of the better skaters. That combination will be very intriguing to a team like Vegas. He’s way more athletic than the defenders they have been selecting the last five or so years and would give the organization a bit of a different look on the back end.

Second Round

33 - Anaheim Ducks - Michael Hrabal (Omaha, USHL)

If we don’t have a goalie taken in the first round, I would suspect that we see a huge run on them early in the second. The Ducks haven’t drafted a goalie since Lukas Dostal. He’s turned into a great prospect, but there’s a need to look further down the road. Hrabal is raw, but he might have the best upside of the goalies available.

34 - Columbus Blue Jackets - Carson Bjarnason (Brandon, WHL)

The goalie run continues with the Jackets taking Carson Bjarnason. He has number one upside as he continues to learn to harness his athleticism and he helps fill an organizational need in the future.

35 - Chicago Blackhawks - Lukas Dragicevic (Tri-City, WHL)

It could be surprising if Dragicevic drops out of the first round considering the talent he brings from the back end, but there are definitely concerns over how good he can become defensively. The Hawks are swinging for true upside here and hope that he can be a strong powerplay quarterback for them in the future.

36 - San Jose Sharks - Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener, OHL)

One thing that the Sharks really seem to be focusing on as a scouting team is drafting athletes. They’re looking for guys who can play fast, who bring size, and who have a large runway to improve. Rehkopf had a very inconsistent year, but the talent is there. With all the graduations in Kitchener this year, it’ll be his team to run moving forward.

37 - Montreal Canadiens - Trey Augustine (USNTDP)

We know how commonly the Canadiens have gone to the U.S. Development program in recent years and Augustine was the rock for that team in net, helping them capture gold at the U18’s. It seems likely that Montreal will look to draft a goalie fairly high this year because Primeau hasn’t really developed according to plan, and they let Dichow’s rights expire.

38 - Arizona Coyotes - Otto Stenberg (Frölunda, SHL)

I really like Stenberg. I think he’s a lot better than he showed in the SHL and when playing outside of international competition. Part of me doesn’t believe that he falls, but players with his profile have fallen outside of the first many times. This would be a great selection for Arizona, adding speed and skill to their forward group in the future.

39 - Buffalo Sabres (via Philadelphia) - Danny Nelson (USNTDP)

One of the most improved players in this draft class from start to finish this year, Nelson is an intriguing athlete. There’s a chance that he might not be more than an Adam Lowry type. But it will be interesting to see how his offensive game develops outside of the shadow of Smith and Moore. The Sabres system is stacked, but this type of center is something that they could focus in on.

40 - Washington Capitals - Adam Gajan (Chippewa, NAHL)

I fully expect someone to jump on Gajan pretty early. He was so good at the U20’s this year and he has the athletic tools needed to reach a high ceiling as an NHL starting netminder. The Capitals haven’t focused a ton of attention on goaltenders at the draft in recent years, but there is a need to add one into the system. Additionally, they have been an organization that does not shy away from drafting re-entry players.

41 - Detroit Red Wings - Kasper Halttunen (HIFK, Liiga)

The first of three consecutive selections for the Wings, look for variance in these selections. In Halttunen, the Wings get a high upside goal scoring winger who struggled playing against men this year, but who dominated his own age group. He could easily go higher than this.

42 - Detroit Red Wings - Maxim Strbak (Sioux Falls, USHL)

Strbak would be a great selection for the Wings in this area as a potential top four, defensively oriented defender. He is a fierce competitor, and his offensive skill set might be a tad underrated. If the feet can improve more at Michigan State, he could be quite the player.

43 - Detroit Red Wings - Charlie Stramel (Wisconsin, NCAA)

There is a significant chance that Stramel will go in the first round even after a poor year at Wisconsin. NHL teams love his profile; that big power center with middle six upside. For the Wings, I believe that this would be a no- brainer if he is still available. Stramel is a little more athletic than Rasmussen and has better physical tools than Veleno.

44 - Chicago Blackhawks (via Ottawa) - Nick Lardis (Hamilton, OHL)

One thing that the Hawks really focused on last year at the draft was adding speed and strong skaters to their prospect group. I’m sure that this was extremely intentional and there aren’t many better skaters than Nick Lardis available this year. His second half explosion has vaulted him up into this kind of territory thanks to his combination of speed and goal scoring ability.

45 - Buffalo Sabres - Andrew Cristall (Kelowna, WHL)

Quite the fall for Cristall, but there is real concern inside the NHL scouting community around his size and skating combination. He is so reliant on using his edges and lacks the linear quickness to gain separation against better skating defenders. But the upside is so significant because of his creativity, skill, and IQ. Well worth the risk in this area of the draft, especially for an organization with a deep talent pool.

46 - Nashville Predators (via Pittsburgh) - Nico Myatovic (Seattle, WHL)

This is the kind of player that the Predators have won with previously, that hardnosed, physical, strong two-way forward out of the CHL. Myatovic improved a lot in the second half with the Thunderbirds and he is the type of player that I believe NHL scouts are going to like a lot more than independent, amateur ones.

47 - Nashville Predators - Arttu Karki (Tappara U20, U20 SM-sarja)

After taking Willander in the first, the Predators take Karki, a strong puck moving defender who was excellent in Finland this past season. Lots to like about his skating ability and offensive upside. He’s almost like a more athletic version of Kulonummi, who they took last year.

48 - Calgary Flames - Beau Akey (Barrie, OHL)

After taking Zach Benson in the first round, the Flames opt for an athletic blueliner from the OHL in the second, taking Akey. He is one of the better skating defenders in the draft and is still learning how to use that mobility to his advantage at both ends. Shades of a young TJ Brodie here, waiting to be unlocked and that worked out well for the Flames in 2008.

49 - New York Islanders - Jayden Perron (Chicago, USHL)

This is the fourth straight year that the Islanders don’t have a first-round selection and their talent pool is hurting because of it. So, the focus needs to be on selecting a player with significant upside. The highest upside player remaining is probably Perron, an undersized, but skilled forward with the Chicago Steel. He excels playing with pace and would immediately become one of the better prospects in their system.

50 - Seattle Kraken (via Winnipeg) - Andrew Gibson (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)

One of the better defensive defenders available in the draft this year, Gibson would give the Kraken a type of player that they haven’t really drafted yet in their two years of existence; a staunch, physical defender with reach. He had a really good U18’s for Canada and we know how much Seattle loves drafting from the OHL.

51 - Chicago Blackhawks (via Tampa Bay) - William Whitelaw (Youngstown, USHL)

This just seems like the type of player that Chicago scouts would really love. Again, we have the speed component. But we also have a competitive player who can score goals. There are concerns over his size and IQ, but he had a great playoff for Youngstown in helping them capture a Clark Cup.

52 - Seattle Kraken - Jacob Fowler (Youngstown, USHL)

Personally, I believe Fowler is the top goaltender in this class. But I think that because his physical/athletic tools aren’t quite as strong as the likes of Hrabal and Bjarnason, he probably ends up more in this range. His performance in the Clark Cup playoffs was a masterpiece. Yes, Seattle did draft Niklas Kokko early last year, but when you’re trying to build out a strong prospect group, you need good goaltending depth.

53 - Minnesota Wild - Coulson Pitre (Flint, OHL)

Pitre is exactly the kind of player that the Wild could use in their system; a competitive power winger who can play in all situations. Pitre is one of the most physical forwards available this year and he is that rare kind of power forward who also has good vision with the puck. He’s the perfect complementary piece.

54 - Los Angeles Kings - Oscar Fisker Mølgaard (HV71, SHL)

The second straight draft that the Kings don’t have a first-round selection and they have to be very happy to see Oscar Fisker Mølgaard still available here. The Kings love players like him. He’s a competitive two-way forward with versatility who can probably move through their system pretty quickly.

55 - Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Rangers) - Tristan Bertucci (Flint, OHL)

At this point, the Blackhawks have about half the picks in the first two rounds it seems like. Here they nab Tristan Bertucci, a player who improved substantially in the second half at both ends. He has intriguing physical and athletic tools and could project as a John Marino kind of player with the right development.

56 - Edmonton Oilers - Koehn Ziemmer (Prince George, WHL)

It seems like Edmonton has been searching for this kind of player at the draft for several seasons now. They took Reid Schaefer last year but then dealt him in the Ekholm deal. Ziemmer is a pure goal scorer, but he also brings a competitive edge. The only thing holding him back is a lack of dynamic skating ability.

57 - Seattle Kraken (via Toronto) - Carey Terrance (Erie, OHL)

Speed is the name of the game for Terrance. But versatile is a word that also fits. He showed at the U18’s with the U.S. team that won gold, that he can play a complementary role different from the play driving role that he fills in Erie. He is already a committed two-way player too. Lots to like here.

58 - New Jersey Devils - Gracyn Sawchyn (Seattle, WHL)

Definitely a bit of a fall for Sawchyn, at least compared to where a lot of independent scouting agencies have him ranked (including us). But there are concerns over his slight frame and lack of dynamic skating. That said, this is a great selection for a New Jersey team that doesn’t have a first this year. Sawchyn has great offensive upside and the Devils haven’t shied away from taking players with skating weaknesses in recent years.

59 - Anaheim Ducks (via Colorado) - Easton Cowan (London, OHL)

Have to think that there were quite a few NHL scouts impressed with Cowan’s playoff performance for London in the OHL playoffs where he transformed into a much more assertive offensive player. He has speed to burn and he’s tenacious to boot. This is a future high character, middle six guy for the Ducks.

60 - Anaheim Ducks (via Boston) - Aram Minnetian (USNTDP)

Pretty rare to see the first U.S. NTDP defender off the draft board this late, but it’s an odd group. Minnetian seems like the most likely to go in the second-round range (or Fortescue). This is a solid upside pick for the Ducks because of how well Minnetian skates. Consistency was an issue for him, especially in the defensive end, but he’ll be given time to grow.

61 - Dallas Stars - Martin Misiak (Youngstown, USHL)

It took some time for Misiak to adjust to the USHL, but as the USHL playoffs rolled around, he was firing on all cylinders along with Will Whitelaw. He was a huge piece of that Phantoms’ Clark Cup winning team. He plays a two-way power game and projects as a solid middle six option for Dallas in the future.

62 - Carolina Hurricanes - Jakub Dvorak (Bili Tygri Liberec, Czechia)

It wasn’t the easiest season for Dvorak, as he battled through injuries. However, he returned in time to play at the U18’s, giving scouts a taste of what he can bring to the table as a future top four, stay at home defender. The Hurricanes love raw, toolsy types like Dvorak and they’ve drafted players out of Czechia the last two drafts.

63 - Florida Panthers - Felix Nilsson (Rögle, SHL)

It was really unfortunate that Nilsson had to miss the U18’s due to a wrist injury. He was shooting up draft lists with his strong second half. Ain intelligent and high energy playmaking center, Nilsson fits the Florida Panthers MO at the draft and would be a great pick for a team without a first-round selection this year.

64 - Minnesota Wild (via Los Angeles) - Drew Fortescue (USNTDP)

No defender on the U.S. U18 team improved as much as Fortescue did this year. His athletic tools are through the roof and at the very least, he looks like he could be a solid #5, safe, stay at home type. But what if his game continues to improve at a rapid rate? The Wild have targeted similar kinds of defenders at the draft in recent years.

2023 NHL Combine: Part Two – Media Availability Interviews

Joely Stockl and Chase Rochon — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:45:01 +0000

Joely Stockl and Chase Rochon had the opportunity to represent McKeen’s at the 2023 NHL Combine this past weekend, and interview many players during media availability. Media Availability is the very last step in the NHL Combine for the players, and it is the last opportunity that they have to speak to the media before draft week in Nashville. Interviewing the players is a great opportunity for scouts/media to get a sense of who the players are as people, and how their character ties into their on-ice game. Joely and Chase were able to interview an astounding 30 players at the 2023 NHL Combine, and learn information about the players that you don’t see on the ice, including off-ice habits/hobbies, superstitions, offseason training, current strengths & weaknesses, and more!

2023 NHL Combine Player Interviews:

Colby Barlow, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Barlow on what it meant when he was named captain of the Owen Sound Attack this past season:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ColbyBarlow.mp4

Connor Bedard, Regina Pats (WHL)

Bedard on his offseason plans and habits:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ConnorBedard.mp4

Connor Bedard speaks on favourite Canucks player Tyler Motte and what draws him to his hard-working game:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bedard-1.mp4

Bedard on his superstitions:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bedard-2.mp4

Zach Benson, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)

Benson on what it means to be a part of such a special draft class coming out of the WHL, and the steps he is going to take over the summer:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ZachBenson.mp4

Zach Benson talks about hockey his ability to scan the ice as one of the smarter players in the draft class:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Benson-1.mp4

Tristan Bertucci, Flint Firebirds (OHL)

Tristan Bertucci talks about his Toronto Marlboro days:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bertucci-1.mp4

Bertucci on being a better golfer then Colby Barlow and sports he plays outside of hockey:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bertucci-2.mp4

Oliver Bonk, London Knights (OHL)

Bonk on the “twin” chemistry between Cowan and Barkey, and how being sent down to the GOJHL in the 2021-2022 season helped his development:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OliverBonk.mp4

Hunter Brzustewicz, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Brzustewicz telling us what animal he would describe himself as, his experience in Kitchener, and his skillset:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/HunterBrzustewicz.mp4

Leo Carlsson, Orebro HK (SHL)

Leo Carlsson talks about his future and enjoying the moment:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Carlsson-1.mp4

Leo's life away from hockey:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Carlsson-2.mp4

Easton Cowan, London Knights (OHL)

Cowan on his “twin” connection with Denver Barkey and the lessons he learned from a tough loss in the OHL Finals:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/EastonCowan.mp4

Easton Cowan talks about his connection with fellow OHLers, the Hunters and, teammate Sam Dickinson:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Cowan-1.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Cowan-2.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Cowan-3.mp4

Cowan talking about his old Instagram account where he used to shoot pucks and do puck tricks with his friends:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/EastonCowan-4.mp4

Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Andrew Cristall says Logan Stankoven is the hardest player he has played against. Also says Bedard is better than Kent Johnson at inline hockey:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Cristall-1.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Cristall-2.mp4

David Edstrom, Frolunda HC (J18, J20, & SHL)

David Edstrom talks about his lethal shot and how he developed it:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Edstrom-1.mp4

Brad Gardiner, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)

Gardiner on the Ottawa 67’s, his strengths, and next steps over the offseason:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BradGardiner.mp4

Riley Heidt, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

Riley Heidt talks about his draft interviews:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Heidt-1.mp4

Samuel Honzek, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

Vancouver Giants forward Samuel Honzek talking about his experience coming over from Slovakia to play in the WHL, and what it means to represent his country internationally:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SamuelHonzek.mp4

Nick Lardis, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Lardis talking about his experience with the Bulldogs in the second half of the season:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NickLardis.mp4

Lardis on improvements he wants to make over the offseason:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NickLardis-2.mp4

Lardis talks superstitions

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NickLardis-3.mp4

Nick Lardis talks time away from the rink and his golf game:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NickLardis-4.mp4

Tanner Molendyk, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Tanner Molendyk on his hobbies and superstitions:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Molendyk-1.mp4

Oliver Moore, U.S. National U18 Team (NTDP)

Oliver Moore of the NTDP talks about how he developed his elite skating ability:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Moore-1.mp4

Moore on the top NTDP line of Smith, Perreault and Leonard and how it may have benefited his development:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Moore-2.mp4

Moore talking about his emotions and mindset throughout the comeback at the U18’s in the gold medal game against Sweden:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Moore-3.mp4

Moore going forward:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Moore-4.mp4

Etienne Morin, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Etienne Morin tells us that he was asked what animal represents him, and his “unique” answer:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Morin-1.mp4

Bradly Nadeau, Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Nadeau on his experience playing alongside his brother Josh Nadeau in Penticton of the BCHL:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BradleyNadeau.mp4

Bradly Nadeau talks about Mitch Marner and Seth Jarvis as who he models his game after:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Nadeau-1.mp4

Jayden Perron, Chicago Steel (USHL)

Jayden Perron speaks about teammate Macklin Celebrini and activities away from the game:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Perron-1.mp4

Perron speaks on superstitions:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Perron-2.mp4

Perron, on what's next:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Perron-3.mp4

Alex Pharand, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Pharand on his off-ice habits and various superstitions:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AlexPharand.mp4

Luca Pinelli, Ottawa 67’S (OHL)

Luca Pinelli talking about his strengths and areas for improvement heading into next season:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/LucaPinelli.mp4

Luca Pinelli talks about teammate Henry Mews and his free time away from the game:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Pinelli-1.mp4

Caden Price, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Caden Price talking about his translatable skills and areas for improvement:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CadenPrice.mp4

Caden Price talks about his time away from the game:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Price-1.mp4

David Reinbacher, EHC Kloten (NL)

David Reinbacher on being considered the most "NHL ready" defenceman in the draft class, and what his off-season plans are:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Reinbacher-1.mp4

Gracyn Sawchyn, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Gracyn Sawchyn talks about the challenges of the long playoff run, and playing for the memorial cup:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Sawchyn-1.mp4

Otto Stenberg, Frolunda HC (J20, SHL)

Stenberg talking about the Swedish NHL players that he looks up to:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OttoStenberg.mp4

Otto Stenberg talks what he needs to do to make it to the next level:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Stenberg-1.mp4

Carey Terrance, Erie Otters (OHL)

Carey Terrance speaks on the Erie Otters and playing with top prospects in Malcom Spence and Matthew Schaefer:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Terrance-1.mp4

Tom Willander, Rogle BK (J20)

Tom Willander on how his standout performance at the U18’s has improved his draft stock:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/TomWillander.mp4

Tom talks about looking forward to playing with top prospects Lane Hutson and Macklin Celebrini:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Willander-1.mp4

Tom Willander talks about his draft interviews:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Willander-2.mp4

Matthew Wood, University of Connecticut (NCAA)

Matthew Wood tells us about his “interesting question” from the interviews, about what he wants to be said at his funeral:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Matthew-Wood_11.mp4

Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

Ziemmer talking about what it means to be a part of the special draft class from the WHL this year as a late 2004 born player:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/KoehnZiemmer.mp4

Koehn Zeimmer speaks on competition in the WHL:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Zeimmer_11.mp4

2023 NHL Combine: Part One – Fitness Testing Overview & Results

Chase Rochon and Joely Stockl — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 22:07:17 +0000

Another NHL Combine has come and gone in Buffalo, NY this past week. For the 106 invited players, it was a week full of 1-on-1 interviews with NHL teams, interviews with the media, and a variety of fitness tests. The fitness testing results mean more to some NHL executives than they do to others, but nonetheless it is always fascinating to see who finished atop the leaderboards in the fitness testing categories. The Combine is also the final opportunity for players to submit their height and weight, which is always an intriguing progression to monitor. The NHL Combine is the perfect precursor to the NHL Draft. It is some of these player’s first times meeting their competitors on the draft board, and it allows for these players to meet their future management of the team that drafts them in Nashville in just a few weeks.

Standouts

Nick Lardis of the Hamilton Bulldogs placed 1st in four categories: Vertical Jump, Squat Jump, No Arm Jump, & Pull Ups (15). This standout performance puts more eyes on the late riser, who arrived in Hamilton and tore it up through the second half of the season putting up 46 points in 33 games. Lardis has skyrocketed on many draft boards, including McKeen’s, as he finished 32nd overall and snuck his way into the tail end of the first round. He is a player that has certainly benefited from being the “go-to” player on the Bulldogs, and his success will hopefully lead into next season as the team moves to Brantford.

Another player from the OHL, Brad Gardiner also performed exceptionally well in the fitness tests. The two-way centre from the Ottawa 67’s finished in the top 10 in five of the categories completed on the weekend of the Combine, as well as in the Grip Strength test completed earlier in the week. Gardiner likely drew some more attention with this performance, as he was one of the later ranked players out of the 106 at the Combine (McKeen’s has Brad Gardiner ranked at 163rd).

Leading the results in the consensus “most difficult” category, the VO2 MAX, was Seattle Thunderbirds forward Nico Myatovic. In their media availability, nearly every player stated that the VO2 MAX was the hardest fitness test of them all. The VO2 MAX is a gruelling test of oxygen utilized during maximum effort. By winning in this category, Myatovic has likely gained some respect points from teams and players.

The tallest player at the Combine measured up at 6 '6.75”, and that was Czech goaltender Michael Hrabal. Hrabal is one of the top ranked goaltenders heading into the NHL Draft, and he was one of seven goalies invited to the Combine. Hrabal’s size is definitely a draw for some teams, as we see NHL goaltenders getting taller and taller each year.

Fitness Testing Results (excluding Functional Movement Screen & Grip Strength)

Top 10 from each category;

VO2 Max

Nico Myatovic
Brad Gardiner
Bradly Nadeau
Beckett Hendrickson
Noel Nordh
Easton Cowan
Aram Minnetian
Paul Fischer
Axel Sandin Pellikka
Hunter Brzustewicz

Wingate Test

Noah Dower Nlsson
Danny Nelson
Tom Willander
Hunter Brzustewicz
Cameron Allen
David Edstrom
Brayden Yager
Tanner Molendyk
Samuel Honzek
Jonathan Castagna

Pull Ups

Nick Lardis- 15
Danny Nelson- 14
Bradly Nadeau- 14
Cameron Allen- 14
Connor Bedard- 14
Brad Gardiner- 13
Jaden Lipinski- 13
Nate Danielson- 13
Oliver Moore- 13
Denver Barkey- 12

Pro Agility (Right)

Easton Cowan
Jonathan Castagna
Brady Cleveland
Samuel Honzek
Scott Ratzlaff
Brandon Svoboda
Brad Gardiner
Beau Akey
Andrew Gibson
Hunter Brzustewicz

Pro Agility (Left)

Easton Cowan
Jonathan Castagna
Oliver Moore
Brandon Svoboda
Jayden Perron
Brad Gardiner
Ethan Gauthier
Beau Akey
Andrew Gibson
Bradly Nadeau

Bench Press (50% of Body Weight)

Axel Sandin Pellikka
Charlie Stramel
Mathieu Cataford
Lukas Dragicevic
Ryan Leonard
Cameron Allen
Jonathan Castagna
Bradly Nadeau
Brad Gardiner
Nate Danielson

Standing Long Jump

Charlie Stramel- 118”
Samuel Honzek- 117.5”
Cameron Allen- 117”
Tom Willander- 116.5”
Beau Akey- 116”
Nick Lardis- 114.5”
Maxim Strbak- 112.8”
David Reinbacher- 112”
Nate Danielson- 111.5”
Jayden Perron- 111”

Vertical Jump

Nick Lardis
Cameron Allen
Colby Barlow
Caden Price
Charlie Stramel
Nate Danielson
Jesse Nurmi
Beau Akey
Oliver Moore
Ethan Gauthier

No Arm Jump

Nick Lardis
Oliver Moore
Samuel Honzek
Jesse Nurmi
Colby Barlow
Cameron Allen
Jayden Perron
Jonathan Castagna
Nate Danielson
Charlie Stramel

Squat Jump

Nick Lardis
Jesse Nurmi
Colby Barlow
Nate Danielson
Jonathan Castagna
Cameron Allen
Tanner Molendyk
Noah Dower Nilsson
Oliver Moore
Tom Willander

Heights & Weights

Name Height /Weight

Beau Akey 6’0”/175

Cameron Allen 6’0”/192

Trey Augustine 6’1.25”/190

Denver Barkey 5’8.75”/155

Colby Barlow 6’0.5”/195

Connor Bedard 5’9.75”/185

Zach Benson 5’9.75”/170

Tristan Bertucci 6’1.75”/175

Carson Bjarnason 6’3.25”/190

Oliver Bonk 6’1.5”/180

Gavin Brindley 5’8”/168

Hunter Brzustewicz 5’11.75”/190

Luca Cagnoni 5’9”/182

Jonathan Castagna 6’2.25” /195

Mathieu Cataford 5’11”/190

Alex Ciernik 5’10.25”/174

Brady Cleveland 6’4.75”//210

Easton Cowan 5’10.5”/170

Andrew Cristall 5’9.5”/175

Nate Danielson 6’1.5”/186

Noah Dower Nilsson 5’11.75 “/185

Lukas Dragicevic 6’1”/194

Jakub Dvorak 6’5”/210

Dalibor Dvorsky 6’1”/200

David Edstrom 6’3”/185

Paul Fischer 6’1”/200

Drew Fortescue 6’1”/176

Adam Gajan 6’2.75”/180

Brad Gardiner 6’1”/184

Ethan Gauthier 5’11.5”/183

Andrew Gibson 6’2.75”/202

Terrell Goldsmith 6’4”/220

Kasper Halttunen 6’3.25”/215

Lenni Hameenaho 6’1”/185

Riley Heidt 5’10.5”/180

Beckett Hendrickson 6’1.5”/174

Samuel Honzek 6’3.25”/195

Michael Hrabel 6’6.75”/215

Larry Keenan 6’3.25”/186

Jesse Kiiskinen 6’0.25”/190

Rasmus Kumpulainen 6’2.75”/190

Nick Lardis 5’11”/168

Ryan Leonard 5’11.75 “/190

Kalan Lind 6’0.5”/158

Theo Lindstein 6’0”/185

Jaden Lipinski 6’3.75”/210

Dylan MacKinnon 6’2”/190

Matteo Mann 6’5.5”/230

Gavin McCarthy 6’1.5”/186

Ethan Miedema 6’4”/208

Aram Minnetian 5’11”/195

Martin Misiak 6’1.5”/200

Tanner Molendyk 5’11”/181

Oscar Fisker Molgaard 5’11.75“/166

Oliver Moore 5’11”/195

Etienne Morin 6’0”/180

Carsen Musser 6’4”/212

Quentin Musty 6’1.5”/200

Nico Myatovic 6’2.5”/180

Sawyer Mynio 6’0.5”/163

Bradly Nadeau 5’10.25”/160

Zach Nehring 6’2.75”/182

Danny Nelson 6’3”/212

Felix Nilsson 6’0.5”/187

Noel Nordh 6’1.5”/200

Jesse Nurmi 5’11”/168

Tyler Peddle 6’1”/204

Gabriel Perreault 5’10.75”/163

Jayden Perron 5’9”/166

Alex Pharand 6’2.5”/205

Emil Pieniniemi 6’2.25”/175

Luca Pinelli 5’8.75”/167

Aaron Pionk 6’0.75”/173

Coulson Pitre 6’0.75”/170

Caden Price 6’0.5”/190

Scott Ratzlaff 6’0.5”/175

Carson Rehkopf 6’2.5”/195

David Reinbacher 6’2.25”/194

Eduard Sale 6’1.75”/175

Axel Sandin-Pellikka 5’11”/180

Gracyn Sawchyn 5’10.75”/155

Zachary Schulz 6’1”/197

Jayson Shaugabay 5’9.25”/165

William Smith 5’11.75 “/180

Jakub Stancl 6’3”/202

Otto Stenberg 5’11”/185

Charlie Stramel 6’3”/222

Andrew Strathmann 5’10.75”/185

Maxim Strbak 6’1.25”/198

Aydar Suniev 6’1.5”/192

Brandon Svoboda 6’3.25”/209

Carey Terrance 6’0.25”/178

Jordan Tourigny 5’11.25”/165

Anton Wahlberg 6’3.25”/192

William Whitelaw 5’8.75”/175

Tom Willander 6’1”/180

Matthew Wood 6’4”/197

Brayden Yager 5’11”/170

Koehn Ziemmer 6’0.25”/210

Gracyn Sawchyn – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #30 Florida Panthers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 30th (last year - 32nd) GM: Bill Zito Hired: September 2020 COACH: Paul Maurice Hired: June 2022

1. Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

2. Jack Devine, RW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

3. Sandis Vilmanis, LW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

4. Linus Eriksson, C, Timra (SHL)

5. Shea Busch, LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

6. Matvei Shuravin, D, CSKA Moscow (KHL)

7. Marek Alscher, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

8. Kirill Gerasimyuk, G, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

9. Michael Benning, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

10. Simon Zether, C, Rogle BK (SHL)

11. Cooper Black, G, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

12. Mads Kongsback Klyvo, LW, Frolunda (SHL)

13. Arvid Drott, RW, Djurgardens (SHL)

14. Shamar Moses, RW, North Bay Battalion (OHL)

15. Hunter St. Martin, LW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #32

Florida Panthers Top-15 Prospects

1. Gracyn Sawchyn

2. Jack Devine

3. Linus Eriksson

4. Matvei Shuravin

5. Sandis Vilmanis

6. Michael Benning

7. Marek Alscher

8. Hunter St. Martin

9. Mads Kongsbak Klyvø

10. Arvid Drott

11. Shea Busch

12. Simon Zether

13. Shamar Moses

14. Kirill Gerasimyuk

15. Ryan McAllister

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 15 Affiliated Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #32

Florida Panthers Top-15 Prospects

1. Mackie Samoskevich

2. Linus Eriksson

3. Matvei Shuravin

4. Gracyn Sawchyn

5. Justin Sourdif

6. Jack Devine

7. Sandis Vilmanis

8. Michael Benning

9. Simon Zether

10. Ryan McAllister

11. Marek Alscher

12. Josh Davies

13. Evan Nause

14. Ben Steeves

15. Wilmer Skoog

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #31 Florida Panthers

1. Mackie Samoskevich, RW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

2. Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

3. Justin Sourdif, C/RW, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

4. Jack Devine, RW, University of Denver (NCAA)

5. Sandis Vilmanis, RW/LW, North Bay Battalion (OHL)

6. Michael Benning, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

7. Santtu Kinnunen, D, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

8. Ryan McAllister, C, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

9. Mack Guzda, G, Charlotte Checkers (AHL)

10. Marek Alscher, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – FLORIDA PANTHERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #30

1. Mackie Samoskevich - RW

2. Gracyn Sawchyn - C

3. Grigori Denisenko - LW

4. Justin Sourdif - RW

5. Aleksi Heponiemi - C

6. Michael Benning - D

7. Evan Nause - D

8. John Ludvig - D

9. Albert Wikman - D

10. Mack Guzda - G

11. Santtu Kinnunen - D

12. Logan Hutsko - RW

13. Ryan McAllister - LW

14. Marek Alscher - D

15. Ludvig Jansson - D

Prospect System Ranking – 30th (last year - 32nd)
GM: Bill Zito Hired: September 2020
COACH: Paul Maurice Hired: June 2022