{"id":13922,"date":"2017-08-02T09:00:56","date_gmt":"2017-08-02T13:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=13922"},"modified":"2025-10-10T22:55:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:55:46","slug":"tsp-florida-panthers-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/08\/02\/tsp-florida-panthers-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"TSP: Florida Panthers Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2017 edition of \u201cTop Shelf Prospects\u201d. \u00a0During the summer, I will feature a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. I will follow the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no trades). You\u00a0can find all the articles here<\/a>. Since we had an\u00a0extensive NHL Draft preview<\/a>, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted this year. There have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed.<\/em><\/p>\n

I will link you to those articles; as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year\u2019s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2017-18 roster.\u00a0<\/em>I will also bring you one sleeper pick \u2013 a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later; or an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as a dark horse to make the NHL. 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old is the cut-off for prospects. These are not hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.<\/em><\/p>\n

TSP: Florida Panthers Prospects<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>After winning the Atlantic Division in 2015-16, much was expected of the Florida Panthers<\/a> last season. Strange front office decisions, coupled with a number of key players being sidelined with long-term injuries, meant that the Panthers could not repeat their division winning season.<\/p>\n

A tough season meant changes in Florida. Dale Tallon<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is back in as general manager, and Bob Boughner<\/a><\/strong> takes over as coach. Right wing\u00a0Evgeni Dadonov<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0signed from the KHL, while Radim Vrbata<\/a><\/strong> joins from Phoenix. Meanwhile Jaromir Jagr<\/a><\/strong>, Jonathan Marchessault<\/strong>, Jussi Jokinen<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Reilly Smith<\/a><\/strong>, and Thomas Vanek<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0all left the franchise. Can Dadonov and Vrbata, plus a return to health for Jonathan Huberdeau<\/a><\/strong> and Aleksander Barkov<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0replace the missing offence? They can probably take care of a big chunk of it, but there is still room for some young talent to get an opportunity to make an impact in Sunrise.<\/p>\n

2017 NHL Draft Picks:\u00a0Owen Tippett<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Aleksi Heponiemi<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Max Gildon<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Tyler Inamoto<\/strong>,\u00a0Sebastian Repo
\n<\/strong>Graduates: Michael Matheson<\/a><\/strong>, Denis Malgin<\/a><\/strong>, Jared McCann<\/a><\/strong>,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Top Prospect: Owen Tippett<\/h3>\n

The Panthers drafted Tippett with the 10th overall pick in this year\u2019s NHL draft. Prior to the draft, we took a look at Tippett. As no games have been played since that report; we will not repeat it. You can\u00a0check out the report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

#2 Prospect:\u00a0Henrik Borgstrom<\/h3>\n

Center — shoots Left
\nBorn August 6th, 1997 —\u00a0Helsinki, Finland
\nHeight 6’03” — Weight 195 lbs [191 cm \/ 88 kg]
\nDrafted by the Florida Panthers in the 1st round, #23\u00a0overall at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft<\/p>\n