After a solid Day One on the ice, Florida Panthers‘ prospects headed to the beach for a second day full of leadership and team building excersises.
Warrior Day completed on the beach. Great work from all participants! #MoveForward #leadership #flapanthers pic.twitter.com/lSMDMropky
— EliteLeadershipTrng (@Leadership_Trng) June 30, 2015
Though the beach and sun must have been a fun break for the prospects, they were back on the ice on Wednesday for Day Three of the 2015 Development Camp.
Good action today at #CatsCamp https://t.co/7MMOu7MA6e
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
In Day One, the top offensive prospects really wowed, as Lawson Crouse and Rocco Grimaldi impressed with their respective skills. Today, however, it was mostly the defense and the goaltenders.
Skating for defenseman underway at #CatsCamp https://t.co/TfduiRhclc
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Matheson and Downing working along the blue line #CatsCamp https://t.co/LD3gJhSqQ9
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Matheson’s skating is borderline immaculate #CatsCamp
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
I could talk about Matheson’s skating for hours. His ability to move on the ice is incredible.
Mike Matheson is fast and so quick. It’s insane. I feel like I’m watching Brian Campbell in his prime right now.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
While doing this drill..
Thomas Schemitsch and the defense working on skating at #CatsCamp https://t.co/ph1jBjn57b
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Matheson was ridiculously ahead of everyone else.
He’s easily a full second ahead of other players going in/out of the corner. His backwards acceleration from a standstill is mind-blowing.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
@RedSteeg32 his skating is there, but I don’t know about his hockey sense, puck control, first pass, decision making, etc. We’ll see.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
I think he’ll definitely play a year in the AHL, but the year after that, I could definitely see Matheson replace Brian Campbell on the blue line. He’s got the speed, and all the puck moving tools. It’ll be interesting to see how he continues developing.
Thomas Schemitsch also moves well. He got himself open often in the scrimmage drills, but the goaltenders were usually up to the task of stopping him.
Thomas Schemitsch stuffed by Sam Brittian #CatsCamp https://t.co/OmS37b5L6P
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Beautiful feed by Schemitsch into the middle.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
When it comes to goaltenders, watch out for Evan Cowley, the team’s fourth round pick in 2013. He had a solid season in Denver, posting a .924 save percentage in 20 games, and looked great today in every drill.
Evan Cowley looks good. Kicking rebounds out of the way during a pass-off-the-pads drill. #CatsCamp
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
His movement in the crease and his rebound control really impressed me. In drills where the skaters had to shoot low for rebounds, he never put the puck back into the middle. He either kicked them into the corner, or directed them off his stick and out of play.
Evan Cowley with a great save at four-on-four. He’s looking really good today.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Evan Cowley looks really good today.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Evan Cowley with yet another save on a pass across Royal Road. He looks outstanding today.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
He showed off his athleticism too. Despite standing 6’4″ and weighing 185 pounds, Cowley had no trouble moving across the crease to catch one-timers. It was a good showing for the University of Denver netminder.
Some tidbits on the forward group:
Stick work being done by Lawson Crouse and crew at #CatsCamp https://t.co/GMu4UYMERb
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Lawson Crouse and Wayne Simpson just went toe to toe on a net drive. Didn’t end well for Even Cowley, who got trucked by Crouse.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Kyle Rau just made a good play on Miguel Fidler. He’s got good strength despite his size, kept Fidler out of the slot.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Colin Stevens is back in. Kyle Rau also made a strong play to get position on Ben Gallacher and take a shot. Plays much bigger than 5’9
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Jayce Hawryluk niftily batted a puck out of the air and into the net. Good show of skill.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Chris Wilkie buries two in a row on Colin Stevens. Good shot from the team’s sixth round pick.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Rocco Grimaldi just ran over Patrick Shea. Welcome to pro hockey, Mr. Shea.
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
Oh man, was this something to watch. Rocco wanted to go into the slot, and Shea didn’t want to let him get there. A quick shove sent Shea airborne, and I honestly felt bad for the team’s recent draftee. Grimaldi has had an extra four years to bulk up and build lower body strength.
Rocco Grimaldi, last on the ice again at #CatsCamp pic.twitter.com/3aaWWUSNeU
— Shane O’Donnell (@shane1342o) July 1, 2015
This guy honestly never stops trying to get better. He worked with Matheson on passing for five minutes after everyone else left the ice, and then took a couple more shots before pulling the net off.
@eedunphy hockey Tebow doesn’t mess around https://t.co/ktZcDVB1hY
— Jason Rickel (@JasonRickel) July 1, 2015
The skills competition and final day of development camp is Thursday, starting at 9:00 A.M. and ending at 11:00 A.M. Be sure to follow along on Twitter (@shane1342o), and watch out for my Periscope streams. Not only do you guys get to see what I see, you can also enter a chat and ask me questions, request to see certain prospects, and get great feedback directly from someone at the camp.