2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Florida Panthers’ Top 10

Jul 22, 2026, 10:30 EDT

2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Florida Panthers’ Top 10

Credit: Steven Ellis

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third 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.

Here are the criteria for being labeled a prospect: 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. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they must be 25 or under and have played fewer than 20 games in the past season or fewer than 30 games over their career.

Today, we’re breaking down the Florida Panthers.

Let’s get it out of the way: yeah, the Panthers’ prospect pool isn’t that deep.

But… it’s hard not to like a few of the top options on this list. Sure, the team lacks a legitimate game-changing prospect. But GM Bill Zito has proven time and time again he’s willing to be aggressive to get the guys he wants, and nothing can stand in his way.

The Panthers missed the playoffs this past year after winning the Stanley Cup in consecutive seasons. Most pundits expect the club to at least contend for the title again in 2026-27, especially after adding Brady Tkachuk, Radko Gudas, and, perhaps, most importantly, a healthy Aleksander Barkov to the lineup. If the club can stay at full health, they’ll be fine.

But, of course, that comes at the expense of a strong pipeline. If you’re a Panthers fan, you’re totally OK with that.

Biggest Strength

While the team lacks a goal scorer in the system, they do have quite a few bottom-six options at their disposal. When you’re a contender, that’s significantly more important than trying to find a top-six threat. Simas Ignatavičius and Ryder Cali will use their brute force to absolutely obliterate you but are also competent enough to play with quality offensive threats. Sandis Vilmanis looks ready to grind it out on the fourth line this coming season, and it comes right after showing some real prowess with the puck in recent months. I’ve soured a bit on Linus Eriksson over the past two years, but he could be a decent support center who thrives defensively at the next level. These are the types of guys who can contribute on a cheap deal, and that’s vital when you’re in win-now mode.

Biggest Weakness

I’m not sure there’s any real play-drivers, or guys who you could really count on to elevate a line. That specific scenario is hard to find when you never pick high, so it’s not really surprising. Again, the Panthers are focused more on maximizing their dynasty. The prospect pool comes secondary. Where this really hurts them, though, is on the trade front – there might not be a single prospect in the pipeline capable of really spicing up a deal right now.

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
Recent NHL Graduates: Donovan Sebrango, LHD; Mike Benning, RHD

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Simas Ignatavičius (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

1. Simas Ignatavičius, RW, 18 (Geneve-Servette, NL)

Acquired: Drafted 40th overall, second round in 2026

We don’t typically see many prospects coming out of the top league in Switzerland. But the Lithuanian-born forward has drawn a ton of attention from scouts this year. He’s a 6-foot-3 winger having a solid season in Switzerland’s top league and has been downright dominant internationally. Ignatavicius is so versatile, finding \ many different ways to impact the play with and without the puck. He’s good defensively, has a great shot release, has obvious muscle and is incredibly skilled, too. Is Ignatavicius notable because he’s a big dude playing pro hockey? Or is there something truly here? That’s the question the Panthers have to figure out, and I think there’s a bit of both at play. At the very least, I think he’ll be a decent energy forward.

2. Ryder Cali, C, 17 (Providence College, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 48th overall, second round in 2026

I liked Cali in Jr. A last year – putting up more than 50 points as a 16-year-old in the OJHL is no small feat, even if the competition has diminished over time. But I was hoping to see more from him offensively in North Bay this year. Cali is built like a tank, though, and he puts a ton of power into every shift, with and without the puck. I can see him becoming a solid bottom-six forward if he can improve his playmaking. With an NHL frame and solid hockey sense, there’s something here.

3. Jack Devine, RW, 22 (Charlotte Checkers, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 221st overall, seventh round in 2022

*Jack Devine (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)*

Devine has been one of Florida’s most fascinating prospects in recent memory. Originally selected with one of the final picks in 2022, the former USNTDP star lit up the NCAA before turning pro at the end of 2024-25. Devine had a good AHL rookie campaign, registering 18 goals and 43 points in 63 games. He also played six NHL games but didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet. His short NHL tenure exposed his skating flaws – he was never quick to begin with, and that was amplified by how seemingly out of the play he was at all times. I could see Devine adjusting his game to be a third-line offensive contributor, but I don’t think he’s quite rounded enough to fill that role successfully. I’d like to see him become more than just a minor league goal-scorer; I’m just not convinced. From a pure offensive perspective, Devine is Florida’s best prospect.

4. Gracyn Sawchyn, C, 21 (Charlotte Checkers, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 63rd overall, second round in 2023

Sawchyn was a nice pick at 63 three years ago, and he generally impressed during his WHL career. He put up good numbers in Charlotte this past year, but injuries limited him to six goals and 23 points in 35 games. A 50-point AHL rookie season would have been fantastic. While he’s more of a support player on any given line, he’s a damn good forechecker who is always looking to force turnovers. His priority is getting the puck to his wingers at all times, but he has plenty of skill, too. I could see Sawchyn carving out a role in the middle six, but I’d like to see him work on his top-end speed.

5. Sandis Vilmanis, LW, 22 (Florida Panthers)

Acquired: Drafted 157th overall, fifth round in 2022

Vilmanis had a strong 2025-26 campaign, splitting his time between the NHL and AHL. He had five points in 19 NHL games and another 17 goals and 38 points in 48 games with Charlotte. It was a breakthrough campaign for the Latvian winger, who also finished as one of the top scorers at the World Championship. I’ve never been too high on his game, viewing him as more of an energy guy at best. But he has done an excellent job of elevating his offensive reads and capitalizing on open space. Look for Vilmanis to become a legitimate bottom-six forward option in the long run.

6. Marek Alscher, LHD, 22 (Charlotte Checkers, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 93rd overall, third round in 2022

*Marek Alscher (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)*

Alscher impressed during his four-game stint with the Panthers, registering three points. It was especially impressive given he had just 11 points in 52 AHL games. Still, you saw a young defender with something to prove, and he looked extremely confident with the puck. Alscher’s game is more about breaking up plays in the D-zone and using his big 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame to get in the way. He does a good job of forcing opponents to the perimeter, and he’s willing to block shots, too. I think that’s more of the style of player we’ll see him become if he ever reaches the NHL full-time. Alscher can become a decent bottom-pair defenseman if everything works out.

7. Matvei Shuravin, LHD, 20 (Charlotte Checkers, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 97th overall, third round in 2023

At around 6-foot-3, Shuravin has ideal size for a defender. He’s mobile blueliner who isn’t afraid to rush the puck – something he really improved the past two years. The offense just didn’t seem to flow, and neither did the consistency as he bounced between the KHL, VHL and MHL. I think he still needs to work on his decision-making, and I want to see Shuravin face more difficult competition. But I think the Panthers like him as a more advanced defensive defenseman. We’ll see if that evolves as he embarks on his first year playing in North America this coming season.

8. Linus Eriksson, C, 20 (Timrå IK, SHL)

Acquired: Drafted 58th overall, second round in 2024

Eriksson can be a frustrating player to evaluate at times. He was an impressive junior player in his draft season and was easily one of the best playmakers to come out of Sweden in recent years. But the past two campaigns have been a struggle, with Eriksson struggling to get himself involved on the scoresheet. Timrå wasn’t a good team this year, but it felt like he was a passenger more often than not (especially at the World Juniors). His second half was definitely better, when it felt like he made smarter decisions with the puck more frequently. As it stands, I like Eriksson’s defensive-zone game, but I’m not sure he has the offensive chops to be anything more than a depth player.

9. Shea Busch, LW, 19 (Penn State University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 128th overall, fourth round in 2025

Busch was selected in the second half of the 2025 NHL Draft, so it was surprising to see him score 13 goals and 18 points in his first 12 games with Everett (after registering 11 goals and 19 points in 39 games the year prior. He was always a solid goal-scorer at every level, but that was superstar-level numbers early on. The problem? Busch suffered an upper-body injury on Oct. 29 that took him out until deep in the playoffs. Fortunately, he bounced back with 13 points in 16 games to help the Tips win the WHL title, only to have a tough stretch at the Memorial Cup. I’m worried that he’s not balanced enough to patrol anything but a scoring role, and those will be tough to come by in the NHL.

10. Jonas Kemps, LHD, 18 (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL)

Acquired: Drafted 98th overall, fourth round in 2026

*Jonas Kemps (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Kemps left the USA Hockey National Team Development Program after his U-17 season to chase a new opportunity with the Chicago Steel. He had a strong campaign, showing some promise as a solid skater with a big frame. With every new viewing, it felt like he became more confident carrying the puck. I’m not saying he’s going to put up a ton of points at the next level, but it showed he was willing to play outside his typical shutdown defender comfort zone to make plays happen. I think he has the raw talent to put himself in the conversation to make it as a third-pairing defender, especially if he adds a bit more speed to his strong edgework.

Other Prospects: Hunter St. Martin, LW (21), Kai Schwindt, LW (22), Vilho Vanhatalo, RW (18), Cole Zurawski, RW (18), Mads Kongsbak Klyvø, LW (19), Shamar Moses, RW (19), Arvid Drott, RW (18), Stepan Gorbunov, C (19), Simoth Zether, C (20), Stepan Zyvagin, LW (22), Luke Coughlin, LHD (21), Vladislav Lukashevich, LHD (23), Albert Wikman, LHD (21), Brendan Dunphy, LHD (20), Emil Pieniniemi, LHD (21), Ludvig Jansson, RHD (22), Tyler Muszelik, G (22), Kirill Gerasimyuk, G (22), Louis-Antoine Denault, G (19), Cooper Black, G (25), Yegor Midlak, G (18), Denis Gabdrakhmanov, G (21), Olof Glifford, G (21)

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