After taking Gracyn Sawchyn, Albert Wikman and Olof Glifford, Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito selected his second defensemen of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in Nashville when he picked Luke Coughlin in the sixth round (191st overall).
Before being chosen by the Panthers, the mobile two-way blueline played two seasons for the Rimouski Oceanic after being take fourth overall in the first round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft.
Coughlin was limited to just 37 regular season games during his draft season, totaling five goals and 14 assists. His 19 points were one more than he produced during his freshman season with the Oceanic, when he appeared in 55 games.
Why so few games played? Coughlin broke his collarbone at the end of the 2021-22 season. After returning from the injury early in the 2022-23 campaign, he was sidelined again after suffering an ankle injury which required surgery.
Returning to his stats – two of his five goals came on the power play and he registered 42 shots on goal, accumulated 16 penalty minutes and finished with a plus-five rating.
Coughlin appeared in all nine of Rimouski’s postseason games before the Oceanic were swept in the second round by eventual league champions and Memorial Cup winner, the Quebec Remparts. He enjoyed a productive playoff run, scoring once (a power-play marker) and adding six assists. He registered 16 shots on goal (1.78 per game) and finished with an even rating.
EliteProspects had this to say in its 2023 NHL Draft Guide:
With his loose hips and flexibility, Coughlin can easily shift his weight to launch himself around opponents and open up his skates to walk the blue line while facing his options. He’s a fluid mover at the offensive blue line and a deceptive one, too, as he uses hip pocket handling and fake shots to keep defenders at bay and move the puck or find good lanes to fire in.
After attending Florida’s 2023 development camp, Coughlin returned to Rimouski for his third season of major junior.
While Coughlin set new personal highs with 20 assists and 22 points, his development was hampered again by a stark lack of game action. He suited up for just 42 regular season tilts and was unavailable for the entirety of Rimouski’s first round playoff loss to the Cape Breton Eagles.
Despite missing 26 games, Coughlin was the third-highest scoring defensemen on the team. He notched two goals, one of which was a game-winner, and finished the season with a plus-rating and 28 PIM. Eight (1G/7A) of his 22 points came on the power play.
In July, Coughlin made his second appearance at development camp – one of ten defensemen invited to attend the event.
Due to injuries, Coughlin has only played 66% of a possible 204 regulars games over the first three seasons he’s spent in the “Q” – stunting his development. Better health, and more time and experience is needed for this intriguing sleeper of a prospect, who started off as a forward in minor hockey, to finally blossom.