The only legit top young player left in this pipeline is Mackie Samoskevich, Florida’s first-round pick from 2021. There isn’t much top talent after him; however, the Panthers have several players they’ve picked in the mid-rounds who I think have a chance to play NHL games.
2024 ranking: 23
2025 NHL Draft grade: C
Player Ranking
1. Mackie Samoskevich, RW
November 15, 2002 | 5-foot-11 | 181 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 24 in 2021
Tier: Middle of the lineup player
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end
Analysis: Samoskevich became a full-time NHL player this season for Florida with some very good stretches of play. He’s a talented winger with a lot of NHL offensive traits. He’s a quick skater with very good hands who can create scoring chances with speed. He also has an excellent shot and is a threat to score from range. Samoskevich has improved his effort over time, but he does still tend to stay too much on the outside of the offensive zone. He projects as a middle-six scoring winger.
2. Linus Eriksson, C
March 23, 2006 | 6-feet | 190 pounds | Shoots left
Drafted: No. 58 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Analysis: Eriksson bounced between the Allsvenskan and SHL for Timra and played a limited role for Sweden at the World Juniors. 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 NHL center.
3. Simon Zether, C
October 18, 2005 | 6-foot-3 | 187 pounds | Shoots right
Drafted: No. 129 in 2024
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Below NHL average
Analysis: Zether was good versus men in the Allsvenskan. He’s a big center who has a good enough skill level and can make difficult plays with the puck. He doesn’t have great speed, but he can beat defenders wide due to his hands, frame and willingness to attack the middle. Zether competes well and can play both ways. The big debate about him with scouts is the aforementioned skating issues and exactly how much offense is in his game/the level of hockey IQ he has. I think it’s good enough for him to potentially be a fourth-line forward.
Has a chance to play*
Gracyn Sawchyn is a forward with a ton of skill and good enough pace. He’s not that big, though, and his compete is average. Jack Devine lit up college hockey. He’s a very smart playmaker with legit NHL puck play, but he’s a small, awkward skater. Mads Kongsbak Klyvo plays a fast, competitive style of play with minor questions on his overall level of offense.
Shea Busch, LW
June 12, 2007 | 6-foot-2 | 214 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 128 in 2025
Jack Devine, RW
October 2, 2003 | 6-feet | 181 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 221 in 2022
Denis Gabdrakhmanov, G
June 22, 2005 | 6-foot-5 | 194 pounds | Catches left | Drafted: No. 201 in 2024
Olof Glifford, G
March 5, 2005 | 6-foot-5 | 198 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 159 in 2023
Stepan Gorbunov, C
August 11, 2006 | 6-foot-5 | 196 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 169 in 2024
Mads Kongsbak Klyvo, LW
May 3, 2007 | 6-foot-2 | 194 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 112 in 2025
Tyler Muszelik, G
July 1, 2004 | 6-foot-3 | 194 pounds | Catches left | Drafted: No. 189 in 2022
Gracyn Sawchyn, C
January 19, 2005 | 6-feet | 154 pounds | Shoots right | Drafted: No. 63 in 2023
Matvei Shuravin, D
March 22, 2006 | 6-foot-2 | 172 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 97 in 2024
Hunter St. Martin, LW
June 13, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 185 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 193 in 2024
Sandis Vilmanis, LW
January 23, 2004 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds | Shoots left | Drafted: No. 157 in 2022
* Listed in alphabetical order
Player eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2025, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.
Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.
Tier definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.
(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic. Photo: Claus Andersen / Getty Images)