Come Sunday, a whole new crop of players will be added from the amateur ranks to NHL rosters. As we count down the days before the draft, let’s take a look at where and when players who are currently Panthers-property were drafted. Most of the players on this list are under contract and expected to be regulars next season. Some of the prospects on the list closed the 2013 season with the big-league club. I am also including current RFA’s and UFA’s (just to get a better look at how last year’s team was constructed) as well as recent signee Bobby Butler.
Forwards:
Tomas Fleischmann: 2nd round (63rd overall) Detroit Red Wings (2002)
Jonathan Huberdeau: 1st round (3rd overall) Florida Panthers (2011)
Kris Versteeg: 5th round (134rd overall) Boston Bruins (2004)
Tomas Kopecky: 2nd round (38th overall) Detroit Red Wings (2000)
Marcel Goc: 1st round (20th overall) San Jose Sharks (2001)
Scottie Upshall: 1st round (6th overall) Nashville Predators (2002)
Sean Bergenheim: 1st round (22nd overall) New York Islanders (2002)
George Parros: 8th round (222nd overall) Los Angeles Kings (1999)
Drew Shore: 2nd round (44th overall) Florida Panthers (2009)
Nick Bjugstad: 1st round (19th overall) Florida Panthers (2010)
Quinton Howden: 1st round (25th overall) Florida Panthers (2010)
Peter Mueller (RFA): 1st round (8th overall) Phoenix Coyotes (2006)
Jack Skille (RFA): 1st round (7th overall) Chicago Blackhawks (2005)
Shawn Matthias (RFA): 2nd round (47th overall) Detroit Red Wings (2006)
Bobby Butler.: undrafted – signed as a free agent Ottawa Senators (2010)
Eric Selleck: undrafted – signed as a free agent Florida Panthers (2010)
Stephen Weiss (UFA): 1st round (4th overall) Florida Panthers (2001)
Defensemen:
Brian Campbell: 6th round (156th overall) Buffalo Sabres (1997)
Dmitry Kulikov: 1st round (14th overall) Florida Panthers (2009)
Filip Kuba: 8th round (192nd overall) Florida Panthers (1995)
Ed Jovanovski: 1st round (1st overall) Florida Panthers (1994)
Mike Weaver: undrafted – signed as a free agent Atlanta Thrashers (2000)
Erik Gudbranson: 1st round (3rd overall) Florida Panthers (2010)
Colby Robak: 2nd round (46th overall) Florida Panthers (2008)
Alex Petrovic: 2nd round (36th overall) Florida Panthers (2010)
Tyson Strachan (UFA): 5th round (137 overall) Carolina Hurricanes (2003)
Goaltenders:
Jacob Markstrom: 2nd round (31st overall) Florida Panthers (2008)
Scott Clemmensen: 8th round (215th overall) New Jersey Devils (1997)
Jose Theodore: 2nd round (44th overall) Montreal Canadiens (1994)
By Round:
1st round: 12
2nd round: 8
3rd round: 0
4th round: 0
5th round: 2
6th round: 1
7th round: 0
8th round: 3
undrafted: 3
Looking over the list reveals the expected, that most NHL rosters are stocked with players taken high in the draft. We also see one of the main areas that the Panthers have failed in over the years, finding quality players in the third and fourth rounds of the draft. We also see an inability to pluck and develop late-round gems. A positive we starting to see as we progress through the Tallon era is an increase in the number of homegrown players filling the roster. One thing that stuck out to me is that with four players already cracking the roster from the first 36 choices, the 2010 draft could have a big impact on the future success or failure of the “blueprint”.