Let me be frank: the Florida Panthers really need things to work out with their current core. Because their prospect pipeline is downright awful.

Luckily, they made the Stanley Cup final this year. They came up short, but with Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and other quality players leading the way, the Panthers should remain relevant for a couple of years, at least.

But the pipeline? It’s not great, and definitely near the bottom. Talking to scouts, most were in agreement that the number of prospects that make the NHL out of their current crop is likely below five. Mackie Samoskevich is the key piece here, with Grigori Denisenko already having NHL experience. Justin Sourdif and new 2023 draft pick Gracyn Sawchyn both have potential, but neither look to be big impact players.

So, Panthers fans, enjoy what you have. And take solace in the fact that many other current contenders are in the same boat in terms of the future.

Biggest Strength

Surprisingly, considering none of them are high, it’s goaltending depth. While I don’t believe any of them have starter potential, they’re going with quantity here to help shore up the potential backup position, long-term. In a perfect world, Spencer Knight is the No. 1 five years from now. But could Mack Guzda become the backup? What about Ludovic Waeber, Kirill Gerasimyuk or Tyler Muszelik? Waeber could potentially push for a couple starts this season after a strong run in Switzerland. Guzda is the one with the most potential right now, but he’s still young at 22 and there’s no reason to rush him.

Biggest Weakness

Is there a single impactful forward beyond Samoskevich? Denisenko hasn’t really panned out. Sourdif and Sawchyn are interesting, but both look more like bottom-six support players at this point. If, five years from now, you told me Samoskevich was the only forward in the NHL from this group, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest.

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Mackie Samoskevich (Junfu Han/USA Today)*

Grade: D

1. Mackie Samoskevich, RW, 20 (Charlotte, AHL)

Drafted: No. 24, first round in 2021

Samoskevich was never a huge scoring threat in the USHL. Instead, he was known more for his smarts, the way he handled and distributed the puck, and how difficult he was to steal the disk from. That was only amplified during his two-year run with the University of Michigan, and, this past year, he put up 20 goals and 43 points on the team’s top line. Samoskevich then finished the year with AHL Charlotte, where he had two assists in two regular season games and four assists in seven playoff contests. That’s an excellent start to his pro career, and he’ll likely return to the Checkers to get some more seasoning. There’s a very good chance he’ll become a valuable middle-six winger in a couple of years.

2. Justin Sourdif, RW/C, 21 (Charlotte, AHL)

Drafted: No. 87, third round in 2020

Sourdif had a solid first year of pro hockey, putting up 24 points in 48 games with the Charlotte Checkers. He’s a crafty passer who can play both the power play and penalty kill. Even at 5-foot-11, he doesn’t lose a ton of puck battles. As he continues to get more pro experience, Sourdif could end up developing into a solid bottom-six threat. A big step up offensively with Charlotte could do wonders.

Gracyn Sawchyn (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

3. Gracyn Sawchyn, C, 18 (Seattle, WHL)

Drafted: No. 63, second round in 2023

Sawchyn took a big bet on himself last summer, leaving the esteemed United States National Team Development Program – where he finished as the team’s fourth top scorer – to join the Seattle Thunderbirds. Not only did that result in a WHL championship, but after putting up a point per game while showing good speed, smarts and an outstanding work ethic, it helped his draft status in a considerable way. Scouts would have liked to see him put a bit more offense on the board, but he’s so good away from the puck that you’ll find yourself smiling, anyway. He’s a dynamic forward that brings back memories of Robert Thomas at the same age, but with less offensive potential.

4. Grigori Denisenko, LW, 23 (Florida Panthers)

Drafted: No. 15, first round in 2018

This has to be Denisenko’s last chance, right? The former Russian junior national team scoring star has struggled since coming to North America, registering a career-high 12 goals and 36 points in 56 games with Charlotte this year. He also has zero goals and seven assists in 26 NHL games. It feels like if he’s going to make it, it has to be this season. But even then, it’s going to likely be in a bottom-six role, and there’s others that can do that, too. The good news is he’s on a league-minimum deal for two more years, so he’s inexpensive to keep in the lineup. That always helps.

5. Michael Benning, D, 21 (Charlotte, AHL)

Drafted: No. 95, fourth round in 2020

Benning signed his NHL entry-level contract in the spring after a three-year run with the University of Denver. He was a key piece of the puzzle, registering 83 points in 101 games. Offense has never been an issue, and he’s an excellent passer. But at 5-foot-9 with very little physical ability, will it be enough? He added weight in college, but his overall strength seemed to lack. Some time in the AHL will help, but Benning could make it as a bottom-pairing defenseman.

6. Evan Nause, D, 20 (Charlotte, AHL)

Drafted: No. 56, second round in 2021

The rugged, 6-foot-2 defenseman has the frame you’re looking for out of a pro player these days. He moves well, reads plays on the rush at speed and doesn’t make many mistakes dishing the puck out. His progress over the past year was promising, especially as he got more comfortable taking on more responsibility. Nause has the makings of a modern-day defenseman, and it helps that he’s an excellent skater. A broken foot slowed his season down, but a healthy Evan Nause could be a force in the AHL.

7. Kasper Puutio, D, 21 (Pelicans, Liiga)

Drafted: No. 153, fifth round in 2020

While there were the odd 18-minute games for Puutio, a vast majority were 13 minutes and below in KalPa. Could a change to the Pelicans help boost that? The aggressive, puck-moving defenseman loves having the puck on his stick and does a solid job of shutting things down at the blueline. There’s enough off games to make scouts worried, but with more experience and maturity, things could improve.

8. Ludvig Jansson, D, 19, (Lulea, SHL)

Drafted: No. 125, fourth round in 2022

Jansson played some of his best hockey at the 2023 world juniors, recording four goals and 10 points in seven games. Given he had just 10 points in 44 Allsvenskan games, it was quite remarkable. Ice time can be difficult to come by as a young Swedish defender, but Jansson created his chances by being active on the puck and strong positionally. There’s definitely some NHL potential here.

Jan 28, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Mack Guzda (29) looks on during warm-ups prior to the game against the Boston Bruins at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Mowry-USA TODAY Sports

9. Mack Guzda, G, 22 (Charlotte, AHL)

Undrafted, signed as free agent in 2022

Guzda’s rookie season wasn’t easy, but he still had moments while sharing the net with Alex Lyon. The 6-foot-5 keeper is quite athletic for his size and uses his extra height to his advantage to look around traffic. He’ll likely have to fight Luodivc Waeber for starts in Charlotte next year, with Waeber – given his pro experience and age – likely getting the first crack at a call-up. But Guzda might just be a gem of a late-bloomer that the Panthers can keep in the system for years.

10. Ryan McAllister, C, 21 (Charlotte, AHL)

Undrafted, signed as a free agent in 2023

For the year’s first half, McAllister was Adam Fantilli’s biggest competition for the top of the NCAA scoring charts. He finished with 13 goals and 49 points in 39 games as a freshman with the Western Michigan University Broncos. It was a one-and-done, with the Panthers signing him to a contract to turn pro for 2023-24. The 21-year-old took the long route to the NCAA, starting in Jr. B in 2018-19 before spending three years in British Columbia and Alberta. McAllister had a whopping 57 goals and 139 points with the AJHL’s Brooks Bandits in 2021-22, so the offensive explosion in the NCAA wasn’t a surprise. After scoring seven points in seven games between the regular season and playoffs with Charlotte, McAllister is ready for more.

Other notables: Kirill Gerasimyuk, G (20), Jack Devine, RW (20), Aleksi Heponiemi, LW (24), Patrick Giles, C (23), Kai Schwidnt, LW (19), Marek Alscher, D (19), Zach Uens, D (22), John Ludvig, D (23), Carter Berger, D (23), Luke Coughlin, D (18), Albert Wikman, D (18), Tyler Muszelik, G (19), Olof Gilfford, G (18)

Previous 2023-24 NHL Prospect Pool instalments

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