The Florida Panthers hosted their first day of Development Camp at Baptist Health IcePlex on Monday, featuring this year’s six draft picks and more.
The camp is being led by Geordie Kinnear, who coaches the Charlotte Checkers, the Panthers’ AHL affiliate.
“It was a great first day,” Kinnear said. “You want to take this week as an important time to get certain concepts and how we do things here.”
The camp included 24 prospects, including invitees and draft picks in previous seasons, along with this year’s selections. The group is made up of 11 forwards, eight defensemen and five goaltenders. However, notably, Ryder Cali — a second-round pick in this year’s draft — was not on the ice for Day One.
“It’s a more intimate group, and that was done on purpose for us to get to know the kids a little bit faster,” Kinnear said.
This year’s draft picks feature two second-round selections, Cali and forward Simas Ignatavicius, as well as two sixth-rounders, forwards Vilho Vanhatalo and Cole Zurawski, and one fourth-round selection, where the Panthers chose their only defenseman, Jonas Kemps, who is committed to Michigan State for the 2027-28 season. For their seventh-round pick, goalie Louis-Antoine Denault, this is not his first time at development camp. He attended last season as an invitee.
Goaltender Louis-Antoine Denault blocks a shot during Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
“To be back knowing most of the staff there helps a lot, and kind of building that relationship really helped again there this year,” he said.
Also a newer addition to the roster is defenseman Emil Pieniniemi, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round of the 2023 draft and was traded to Florida on June 13.
The roster also includes 13 players drafted by the Panthers in prior years.
Of them, three are goaltenders. Tyler Muszelik was drafted by Florida in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, but he recently signed a two-year, entry-level contract on March 30. Olof Glifford was the 159th pick in the 2023 draft, and Denis Gabdrakhmanov went 201st in 2024. Along with Denault, this group could be an important one to keep an eye on as the Panthers are without a goaltender for the upcoming season.
Four former draftees are defensemen, ranging from selections in the 2021-2024 draft. The earliest addition was Vladislav Lukashevich, who was selected in the fourth round. He played for Michigan State in 2024-25 and spent last season with Miami University.
Both selected in 2023 were fourth-rounder Albert Wikman and sixth-rounder Luke Coughlin. Wikman, the Sweden native, spent last season with the SHL, while Coughlin competed in 10 games at the University of Maine. Finally, third-round pick in the 2024 draft, Matvei Shuravin, was also in attendance. He signed a three-year, entry-level deal with Florida on June 1 after bouncing around leagues for much of last season.
Panthers prospects Albert Wikman and Linus Eriksson listen to coaches during development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
In addition, six of the former picks are forwards. Four of them — Shamar Moses, Shea Busch, Arvid Drott and Mads Klyvo — were selected in last year’s draft.
Moses is the most familiar with camp, having attended in prior seasons. He spent last year with Cali competing in the OHL for North Bay.
Busch (a former fourth-rounder) will head to Penn State, where he is committed for the 2026-27 season after a successful year in the WHL, where he posted 18 points in 12 games. Klyvo was the other fourth-round pick, who spent last year winning the Champions Hockey League with Frölunda HC. Drott competed for Djurgardens IF U20 team, where he had 25 points in 28 games.
Meanwhile, Linus Eriksson and Simon Zether were both selected in 2024. Zether was a fourth-round pick, while Eriksson was the No. 58 selection. The two Swedes spent last season competing for separate teams in the SHL.
Panthers prospective players listen to coaches during development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Finally, four undrafted invitees rounded out the camp roster. One is the camp’s final goaltender, 20-year-old Ben Hrebik. He spent last season competing in the OHL.
Undrafted defensemen James Mackey and Brendan Dunphy and forward Reegan Hiscock all spent last season competing in the NCAA. Hiscock and Mackey competed in the Ivy League at Cornell and Harvard, while Dunphy competed at the University of Connecticut. Mackey saw little action while Dunphy and Hiscock competed in 37 and 34 contests, respectively.
While the camp mostly serves as an opportunity for these players to grow and get familiar with Florida’s system, Kinnear said that they are still representing.
“Every time you put the jersey on, the Florida Panther logo, I think it’s important to understand how we do things and how we play,” he said.
Florida Panthers prospect Simas Ignatavicius participates in drills during Panthers Development Camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, June 29, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Panthers prospective players listen to coaches during development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Florida Panthers prospect Jonas Kemps skates during Panthers Development Camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, June 29, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Goaltender Louis-Antoine Denault blocks a shot during Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Panthers prospects Albert Wikman and Linus Eriksson listen to coaches during development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Florida Panthers prospective players skate during Panthers Development Camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, June 29, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Florida Panthers prospects listen to coaches during development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Florida Panthers prospect Simas Ignatavicius participates in drills during Panthers Development Camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, June 29, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Florida Panthers prospect Simas Ignatavicius participates in drills during Panthers Development Camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, June 29, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)