The Florida Panthers were ranked 27th (up from 29th last year) in The Athletic’s NHL Pipeline Rankings 2026: From Sharks to Avalanche, the best prospects and under-23 players article.
Here’s what Corey Pronman had to say about Florida’s system and Top 8 under-23 prospects:
The Panthers’ system isn’t the deepest, but they still have some solid young forwards like Sandis Vilmanis and Simas Ignatavicius. There isn’t much high-end skill after them; however, Florida has a decent number of skaters picked in the middle rounds who have a chance to play NHL games.
1. Sandis Vilmanis, LW
Jan. 23, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 192 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 157 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Vilmanis had a very positive season. He was quite good in the AHL and with Latvia’s senior team, and got extended time with Florida. He’s a fast, competitive winger who contributes at both ends of the ice. He’s not overly physical, but Vilmanis wins a lot of puck battles and always seems to be around the play. He has good hands, and while not overly creative, he can create chances by attacking in a direct way. He projects as a middle-six winger.
2. Simas Ignatavicius, RW
Oct. 22, 2007 | 6-foot-3 | 198 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 40 in 2026
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: A U.S.-born player of Lithuanian descent who has played for their senior national team and at the pro level in Switzerland, Ignatavicius is a legit NHL prospect. He’s a tall, fast winger with very good hands who projects to play and create chances at an NHL pace. His vision is fine, and he’s not overly physical. His compete level is a minor issue on his projection, but the toolkit is so good that he could still be a middle-six winger.
3. Ryder Cali, C
Sept. 6, 2008 | 6-foot-2 | 219 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 48 in 2026
Tier: NHL prospect
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Analysis: One of the youngest players eligible for this year’s draft, Cali is a toolsy winger who plays in a direct way. He has NHL-level foot speed and hands, and creates offense by beating defenders with speed and taking pucks to the net. His playmaking is OK, and he doesn’t see the ice at a high level, but he makes enough plays to go with his scoring touch to score at the next level. He projects as a bottom-six winger.
4. Mads Kongsbak Klyvø, LW
May 3, 2007 | 6-foot-2 | 194 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 112 in 2025
Tier: NHL Prospect
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Klyvø is a big winger who skates well and plays a direct style of game. He has good hands and can beat defenders one-on-one. He doesn’t see the ice at a high level, but he has a strong wrist shot. He can PK and win puck battles and doesn’t shy from playing the body. He has a path to being a bottom-six winger.
5. Tyler Muszelik, G
July 1, 2004 | 6-foot-2 | 195 pounds
Drafted: No. 189 in 2022
Tier: NHL Prospect
Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Analysis: Muszelik had a very good season in Hockey East as a top goalie in the conference. I’ve always liked his size and sense, but last season he showed a different level of quickness and ability to make tough saves that I hadn’t seen prior. Muszelik isn’t super quick across the crease, but he can make lateral saves. He can overcommit at times, but he competes well and makes second stops, too. He has a good chance to be a backup NHL goaltender.
6. Linus Eriksson, C
March 23, 2006 | 6-foot-0 | 189 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 58 in 2024
Tier: NHL prospect
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: You’ll never watch Eriksson and come away thinking how impactful he was offensively, but coaches tend to trust him. He’s a worker bee who plays a reliable two-way game and projects as a pro center. He’s a good skater and puck handler who makes enough plays. He’s not that big, but he plays hard and has the potential to be a fourth-line center.
7. Shea Busch, LW
June 12, 2007 | 6-foot-2 | 208 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 128 in 2025
Tier: NHL prospect
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Analysis: Busch missed most of the season due to injury, but when healthy, he was quite good, scoring 13 goals in 12 WHL games. He has good puck skills and can create some chances, but offense isn’t his game. Rather, he’s a big, highly physical winger who plays with an edge and can rattle opponents. His skating is the only real issue in his pro projection.
8. Olof Glifford, G
March 5, 2005 | 6-foot-4 | 191 pounds
Drafted: No. 159 in 2023
Tier: NHL prospect
Skating: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Analysis: Glifford had a fine season splitting starts in the Allsvenskan. He’s a huge goalie with good hockey sense who squares up a lot of pucks and makes a lot of saves in the high-percentage areas. However, his side-to-side quickness will be an issue for higher levels.
The Philadelphia Flyers re-signed defenseman Hunter McDonald to a two-year contract worth $1.825 million. McDonald’s new deal becomes one-way in the second year. The 24-year-old appeared in 65 AHL games (six assists – 92 PIM) with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season and made his NHL debut with the Flyers, drawing an assist.
The Buffalo Sabres traded prospect forward Stiven Sardarian to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for future considerations. Sardarian, 23, was drafted 88th overall by the Sabres in the 2021 and was assigned to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL following the trade.