Welcome back.
It’s time to kick off Daily Faceoff’s second annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.
The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Skaters over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.
Today, we’re looking at the Florida Panthers.
After a few false starts and close calls, the Florida Panthers finally found themselves on the top steps of the NHL podium in 2023-24.
And like any competitive franchise’s, their prospect pool is on the weaker side. They didn’t promote anyone into full-time NHL duty in 2023-24, but they finally let Grigori Denisenko run free with the Vegas Golden Knights organization after years of struggling with the Panthers.
That’s unlikely to change in 2024-25 as the team looks to continue to rely on veteran help to chase the Stanley Cup. The Panthers haven’t had a first-round pick over the past three years and won’t in 2025, either. I still think they’ve made some good picks over the past few years and might be one of the better teams in terms of drafting later – assuming Jack Devine, Josh Davies and Sandis Vilmanis turn out to be something from 2022. I also appreciate that they’ve selected goaltenders in each of the past six years, with Spencer Knight and Devon Levi (now with Buffalo) being the most prominent.
Given his 57 NHL games, I’m not including Knight as a prospect, despite many others doing so. I’m excited to see him try to reclaim his spot with the Panthers, but it’s hard to consider him a prospect given his NHL experience already. I do hope to see him return to the form most expected of him early on in his career because he’s still so profoundly talented.
So, there isn’t too much to get excited down in the farm system, Panthers fans. But for once, you probably don’t care too much.
Biggest Strengths
Surprisingly, this team actually has some solid depth. There are players to like at each position, even if we’re talking about a bunch of long shots, at best. I do like the team’s bottom-six wing depth, though, with Mackie Samoskevich likely being the one who has a chance to break through. Justin Sourdi, Jack Devine and Josh Davies all have realistic chances at being energetic forwards with their own skillsets, while Linus Eriksson and Gracyn Sawchyn are centers that many think the Panthers got much later than they should have been selected over the past two years. Even if just one of those two makes it, the Panthers will be pleased.
Biggest Weakness
On the flip side, I’m not sure there’s much here beyond support players. And that can be fine in some cases, but if the Panthers are going to stay competitive for the next few years, they’ll need some cheap help that can play well above their pay grade higher up in the lineup. Samoskevich has the best chance of that, and maybe Eriksson can play on the second power-play unit. But beyond that, like with any weaker pipeline, there isn’t much in terms of impact talent.
Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Bill Zito
Dir. Amateur Scouting: Shane Churla
Manager of Player Development: Mike Ryan
AHL Affiliate: Charlotte Checkers
ECHL Affiliate: Savannah Ghost Pirates
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Mackie Samoskevich, RW, 21 (Charlotte, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 24th overall, first round in 2021
Samoskevich’s pro rookie season was a big success, with the winger scoring 22 goals and 54 points in 62 games. He also played another seven games with the big club but failed to register a point. Still, it was good to see him take the steps forward he did after a great 43-point sophomore campaign with the University of Michigan in 2022-23, where he played a key role in the team’s second consecutive Big 10 championship. From a style perspective, Samoskevich is an excellent skater who loves to attack the puck, and he’s got excellent hands, too. One issue that has persisted for years, though, is how often he overhandles the puck. Sometimes, he just needs to slow down and keep things simple to be effective. But regardless, the Panthers have to be thrilled with how well he took to pro hockey this past season.
2. Linus Eriksson, C, 18 (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan)
Acquired: Drafted 58th overall, second round in 2024
Eriksson is a smart forward who builds his game on speed and offensive awareness. He’s great with the puck, has excellent hockey IQ and can grind shifts out like a bottom-six player. I don’t think he’s got the scoring touch to play a bigger role in the NHL, but I could see him becoming a third-line player who can step up if needed. He’s just so well-rounded, and the Panthers desperately needed someone like that. I expect Eriksson to continue to punch above the 58th spot he was selected, and hopefully, we can see him become an impact player with Florida one day.
3. Justin Sourdif, RW, 22 (Charlotte, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 87th overall, third round in 2020
Some missed time this past season didn’t help Sourdif, but he still made the most of it with a 12-goal, 38-point sophomore campaign in 58 outings. Like Samoskevich, Sourdif also got into some NHL action, but he didn’t score in those three showings, either. Still, the 22-year-old has shown some really promising signs that he could be a middle-six NHLer one day. He’s so competitive, and while he’s only 5-foot-11, he still brings a ton of power, both in his shot and in the way he battles along the boards. Sourdif doesn’t want you to win any fights for the puck, and that type of energetic style will make him an attractive depth-scoring option. I hope Sourdif gets another chance to play a few games out of camp this year.
4. Jack Devine, RW, 20 (University of Denver, NCAA)
Acquired: Drafted 221st overall, seventh round in 2022
Now a two-time NCAA national champion with Denver, Devine erupted with 27 goals and 56 points in 44 games this year. The quick, energetic forward looked more dynamic than ever this year, while also adding a bit more physicality to his game. Despite the uptick in offense, I think the 21-year-old is more destined to be a bottom-six player who can step up on the power play if needed. A seventh-round pick in 2022, Devine is best as a defensive forward and could use a few years in the AHL to further develop his decision-making with the puck to excel at the NHL level. Devine has the potential to be one of the biggest steals in recent NHL Draft history, but the Panthers will want to hope he signs once he completes his senior season this year.
5. Gracyn Sawchyn, C, 19 (Edmonton, WHL)
Acquired: Drafted 63rd overall, second round in 2023
Sawchyn was moved by Seattle to Edmonton for the team’s playoff push, and he impressed with 30 assists and 43 points in 37 games played with the Oil Kings. Now set to return, I’m expecting big results for someone the internet seemed to really love during his draft year. He’s incredibly smart and deceptive with the puck, and I think Sawchyn had enough of a two-way game to be a threat deeper down the lineup. He’ll be a solid playmaker one day, and I truly think there’s more to his game we haven’t seen fully realized at this point.
6. Mike Benning, RHD, 22 (Charlotte, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 95th overall, fourth round in 2020
After winning a national title with Denver in 2022, hopes were high for Benning once he eventually turned pro. I thought he had a great rookie campaign, scoring nine goals and 26 points in 72 games while seeing his ice time and responsibilities increase throughout the year. Benning loves the puck on his stick, and he makes excellent passing plays to create high-danger scoring chances consistently. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doubled his production as a sophomore with Charlotte because he has always been a play-driver, no matter the level. The concern attributed to a 5-foot-9 frame can’t be ignored, but there are a few scouts who think he’ll be one of just a handful of smaller defenders capable of outworking his petit frame.
7. Matvei Shuravin, LHD, 18 (Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, MHL)
Acquired: Drafted 97th overall, third round in 2023
I like Shuravin, who I had as the 53rd top prospect in 2024. At 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds, he’s got the size scouts are looking for. He does play with an edge, but there are some questions about his decision-making. I liked him in his spot on KHL duty, perhaps a bit more than some of his games in the MHL. Injuries limited his overall playing time this year, but I think he has good late-bloomer potential if he keeps playing at his pace. I hope to see him add a new offensive element to give him a better chance at becoming an NHL-caliber defender.
8. Josh Davies, LW, 20 (Charlotte, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 186th overall, sixth round in 2022
On the surface, Davies – a 5-foot-10 winger – is a small dude. But he doesn’t play like it, with him attempting to send you flying into the crowd any time he possibly can. He’s physically strong, allowing him to drive through the middle and consistently create high-quality scoring chances. Davies is chaos personified. He loves to hit everything that moves. He plays like a wrecking ball. And he produced well this year, too. He’s an energy guy who’ll get the fans screaming if he makes it as a bottom-six forward – and I think he will.
9. Sandis Vilmanis, LW, 20 (Charlotte, AHL)
Acquired: Drafted 157th overall, fifth round in 2022
Vilmanis had an excellent final year in the OHL, highlighted by his 28 goals and 39 points in 30 games to close out the year with North Bay. I also thought he had a good World Junior showing despite Latvia’s struggles to actually produce offense. I’m glad Vilmanis can score, because it’s actually more his hard-working demeanor that stands out to me – like he always has to prove himself to someone. As a fifth-round pick, that makes sense, and I think that gives him a fighting chance at an NHL career at some point, mostly as a support player deep down in the lineup.
10. Kirill Gerasimyuk, G, 20 (SKA-Neva St. Petersburg, VHL)
Acquired: Drafted 152nd overall, fifth round in 2021
Gerasimyuk has been one of the most dominant goaltenders in the MHL over the past half-decade, even if he only played just 14 games in 2023-24. He’s set for full-time VHL action with SKA’s KHL team locked and loaded already, and that should allow him to get some serious playing time. Gerasimyuk isn’t a huge goaltender at just 6-foot-2, but it’s still a decent frame and he makes himself bigger with how well he moves around the crease, especially up high. It’ll be interesting to see if he re-ups in Russia or moves over to North America when his contract ends later this spring. For what it’s worth, I think he would have been one of Russia’s World Junior goaltenders during his eligibility timeframe if it wasn’t for the ban.
Other notables: Stepan Gorbunov, C (17), Simon Zether, C (18), Hunter St. Martin, C (19), Stepan Zvyagin, LW (20), Jakub Kos, LW (21), Owen Lindmark, C (23), Ben Steeves, LW (22), Ryan McAllister, C (22), Kai Schwindt, LW (20), Mikulas Hovorka, RHD (23), Marek Alscher, LHD (20), Evan Nause, LHD (21), Nathan Staios, LHD (23), Zachary Uens, LHD (23), Luke Coughlin, LHD (19), Albert Wikman, LHD (19), Ludvig Jansson, RHD (20), Vladislav Lukashevich, LHD (21), Cooper Black, G (23), Denis Gabdrakhmanov, G (19), Olof Glifford, G (19), Tyler Muszelik, G (20)
