The Florida Panthers selected Russian defenseman Matvei Shuravin in the third round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft with the 97th overall pick.
Shuravin saw duty in three different tiers during his draft season. He played a total of 11 KHL games, making his debut with CSKA Moscow as a 17-year-old, on October 9, 2023, and collected two assists. He also played five scoreless games in the VHL with Zvezda Moskva. Against his peer group, Shuravin was more impressive, finishing with seven assists and 26 PIM in 22 games for CSKA’s junior team in the MHL.
In 2024-25, Shuravin took a step forward in his development, suiting up in 38 MHL games and serving as the team’s assistant captain. He scored four times and led the squad’s defensemen with 20 assists, 24 points and in plus/minus (+26). He also played two games for Zvezda Moskva and notched his first-ever VHL goal.
This past season saw the 20-year-old Shuravin appear in a career-high 21 KHL games with CSKA Moscow, collecting one assist while posting a minus-one rating. He also appeared in 12 VHL games with Zvezda Moscow (one assist) and in 15 games at the major junior level, where he scored twice and picked up an assist.
Shuravin signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Panthers on June 1, 2026. He will spend the upcoming season adjusting to the North American game with the Charlotte Checkers.
The future is bright for Shuravin, who is a strong passer with prototypical size and wheels. While he might be a bit limited offensively, he does everything else well and is considered the team’s best prospect on the blue line.