FORT LAUDERDALE — This week, the Florida Panthers hosted development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex, featuring 24 prospects. They included invitees and draft picks in previous seasons, along with this year’s selections. The group was made up of 11 forwards, eight defensemen and five goaltenders.
Across many drills and a scrimmage to end the week, various players flashed, but some stood out as consistent, elite prospects throughout the week.
Here are six players who stood out in the four days of camp.
Shea Busch
Busch was possibly the biggest standout of the week from start to finish. The 19-year-old left winger was picked by the staff as a team captain for Thursday’s scrimmage, and there was no question why.
Aside from his success on the ice, he quickly emerged as a leader for the group. With this being his second development camp, after being drafted by Florida in the fourth round of the 2025 draft, he provided a veteran presence for some of the newer guys.
“I kind of wanted to break the ice with some guys, meet some new guys and kind of just be a familiar face for people to talk to,” he said.
Busch rarely let a drill go by without netting something, and he brought good, high energy to each one.
Busch is committed to Penn State for the 2026-27 season and comes off two years in the WHL, where he’s found much success despite dealing with injury. Last season, he scored 13 goals in just 12 games.
“He stands out,” said Geordie Kinnear, who leads the development camp and coaches the Charlotte Checkers, the Panthers’ AHL affiliate. “I think he loves to be at the rink, I think he loves to be with his teammates, and there’s no surprise that they had a good year and went a long way because we have leaders that lead by example.”
Simas Ignatavičius
“Talking with [Ignatavičius], he’s a super young man that’s super excited to be wearing the logo, and we’re excited to get to know him on a more intimate basis,” Kinnear said.
While he had far from any bad days, the 6-foot-3, 201-pound winger stood out on day one. The Lithuanian showcased his speed and high IQ, using his quickness and agility to create opportunities for himself.
On Thursday during the scrimmage, he scored once.
Furthermore, his work ethic stood out.
“Very eager young man, hungry to learn,” Kinnear 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)
The No. 40 pick in this year’s draft has been one of the last on the ice, practicing while in line for drills and showing an intensity in the learning process. Ignatavičius said he aims to be “the guy who wants to learn the most,” something that has been evident each day.
It is also something that emulates what he sees as the Panthers’ priority.
“They’re serious about the stuff that they do; their game is quick,” he said. “That’s a good thing if you want to get better, especially during playoffs I think it’s important, so I think that’s why they succeeded in the past. Just very competitive, trying to get better every day.”
Ryder Cali
Despite missing the first day of camp, center Ryder Cali certainly couldn’t be missed on day two. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound forward brought a high-energy, excited presence to Tuesday’s practice and continued it for the rest of the week.
“I love the mentality of everyone here,” he said. “Everyone loves hockey just as much as I do; everyone else wants to get better just as much as I do, so to be in an environment like that, it makes it easy to want to put your best on the ice.”
And he certainly did just that. Florida’s second-round pick this year consistently found the back of the net and brought a quickness and intensity to each drill, also showing off his strong skating. More impressively, he managed to stand out even with drills not catered to some of his biggest strengths – his physicality and ability to use his size.
He was one of the last off the ice Tuesday, slinging shots rapid fire into the net after practice had ended.
Florida Panthers prospective players listen to coaching during Panthers Development Camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, June 29, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
After sporting a Panthers jersey for the first time, Cali was just as excited to be a part of the franchise as he was on draft night, when he said Florida was the best place to get drafted.
“Been tons of fun,” he said Tuesday. “Putting on the helmet is the moment I was like, damn, this is crazy.”
Along with getting a taste of the NHL experience, the practice will only help him as he prepares to head to Providence College next season.
Linus Eriksson
The second captain picked by the coaching staff was forward Linus Eriksson. Another veteran of the camp, Eriksson was drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2024 draft.
“Good days here, I liked the individual things on the ice, learned a lot, so I will take some drills back home to Sweden,” he said.
The Stockholm, Sweden, native spent the last two seasons in the SHL. Last year, he played in 43 games and netted two goals. He also won gold at the 2026 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship with Sweden.
At camp, aside from his leadership, Eriksson proved an effective scorer while also more than pulling his weight on the defensive side.
James Mackey
James Mackey was a standout among the defensemen. The 6-foot-6, 241-pound Villanova, Pennsylvania, native certainly showcased his ability to use his size, playing physical and overpowering opponents on the ice.
On top of his defensive prowess, Mackey was also aggressive offensively, creating scoring opportunities for himself with his quickness despite his size and high-IQ plays.
Mackey spent last season playing in the NCAA for Harvard University. He saw little action, but the season marked just his freshman campaign. Prior to that, he spent two seasons in the USHL, where he skated in 98 games in the stretch.
Mackey was an undrafted invitee to the camp.
Albert Wikman
Another defensive standout was Albert Wikman. Like Mackey, his defense set him apart, but he was also able to make things happen for himself offensively and net a couple of tough looks.
Despite going up against some taller players at the camp, the 6-foot-1, 198-pound defenseman stayed physical and was able to disrupt plays.
Wikman was initially drafted by the Panthers in 2023, going in the fourth round. Most recently, he played in the SHL, and posting five points (3-2-5). This was the Karistad, Sweden, native’s third time at the camp.