My Notes on The Top Performers from Panthers Development Camp
The Panthers wrapped up their development camp, which was open to the public for the first time in four years, and featured plenty of players with intriguing skill sets and potentials.
Development camp is always one of the most interesting times of the year, especially if you’re a prospect nerd like I am, since it’s where teams get to see some of the players in their prospect pipeline in a competitive setting working with coaches in the organization and where fans can get a glimpse of the future of their favorite team. Even though the Panthers’ prospect pipeline isn’t anywhere as deep as it was the last time they had a development camp open to the public, there were still plenty of young players that got to show off their stuff in the last five days at the Coral Springs Ice Den, some of whom had very strong weeks and look like they could potentially earn contracts and opportunities to play past the NCAA or CHL level. Of the many players at camp, both including Panthers prospects (players they drafted or signed to contracts) and camp invitees (players drafted by other teams whose rights were lapsed or who were undrafted altogether), here are some of the players I liked from each position and some brief notes on them and their performance from what I saw when I attended development camp.
FORWARDS
Jack Devine, Age 19, University of Denver (NCAA)
The 2022 7th round pick showed off nice speed, solid puck skills, and a very strong shot during the week. Devine was, in my view, the best forward in Group B and displayed strong hockey sense and a willingness to get to the net or put pressure on opposing puck carriers. Devine used his speed and aggression to the puck to get a breakaway and score during the Friday scrimmage. Devine will likely go back to the University of Denver for his junior season.
Riese Gaber, Age 23, University of North Dakota (NCAA)
Riese Gaber, an undrafted forward out of North Dakota, has a very similar game to 2022 6th round pick Josh Davies as Gaber has a relentless motor, is incredibly quick, and is nasty and tenacious when attacking the puck. I would rate Gaber’s puck skills as better than Davies’ and Gaber was certainly one of the fastest skaters at camp. Small and undersized (just like Davies) but still works hard and did well in rush drills at getting to the net. Gaber still can go back to UND for one more season if he chooses to do so or doesn’t earn a contract with AHL Charlotte.
Matteo Giampa, Age 19, Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
Committed to Canisius for the 23-24 season, Matteo Giampa, undrafted out of the AJHL, showcased nice speed, solid puck skills, and a willingness to drive to the net or to other high traffic areas. Giampa won plenty of puck battles and also was strong in board battles. His skating also was superb, and there were times when he looked pretty comfortably like the second best forward in Group B. He had arguably the most memorable moment in the Friday scrimmage shootout when he recovered from coughing up the puck to score an incredible finish that even got the opposing team up off the bench. . Giampa was third in the AJHL in scoring in 22-23 with 92 points and looks to build upon that strong campaign with the Golden Griffins, who won the 2023 Atlantic Hockey Tournament and made it to the NCAA Tournament.
Ryan McAllister, Age 21, Western Michigan University (NCAA)
Ryan McAllister, who was the subject of my first ever article, was a player I became intrigued with during his very strong college season at Western Michigan, and when I got to see him live for the first time at camp, he shined even more than I expected him to. Easily the second best player in the entire camp, McAllister was not far off from top player Mackie Samoskevich in several of the drills and had a strong performance in the Friday scrimmage. His skating was not ridiculously fast and does need some work (although I did think it was better than some outlets have described it), but he has incredible hands, incredible vision, and puck control. McAllister can read the game so well and is an incredible play maker, the traits that intrigued the Panthers enough to give him a contract at the end of last season. McAllister likely will spend this upcoming season with the Charlotte Checkers, where he will have a great chance at playing in the top six for the Panthers’ AHL affiliate.
Ben Poitras, Age 17, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Poitras, who was one of the youngest eligible players in the recent 2023 NHL Draft, stood out for one main reason: his speed. He’s so quick and so relentless hounding after pucks; he doesn’t seem to get tired and his internal motor is always firing on all cylinders. His offensive instincts were fine enough, but they didn’t really jump out at me. However, his shot at times looked quite good, and a player of Poitras’ age will always be tantalizing if he’s doing well compared to other guys who are all older than him. He’s not the largest or the strongest guy out there, but he wears you down with that undying energy and breakneck speed that he displayed all throughout drills and during the scrimmage. Poitras is committed to go to college at a very reputable program at Northeastern, and the Panthers clearly saw something in him to invite him to camp at 17 years old, so he could potentially end up being drafted by the team in 2024 as an overage prospect if he has a strong campaign at Northeastern. Don’t be surprised if this development camp is not the last time we Panthers fans hear about Ben Poitras.
Mackie Samoskevich, Age 20, University of Michigan (NCAA)
The obvious star of camp and undoubtedly the Panthers’ top prospect, 2021 1st round pick Mackie Samoskevich was absolutely incredible. The only player that even came close to how good he was in my view was Ryan McAllister, and even then Mackie still comfortably outperformed his undrafted counterpart. Samoskevich’s speed is incredible, he’s fast and efficient on his skates, and his skating also makes it difficult to knock him off the puck in dirty areas, and he has no qualms about going to said dirty areas. With the puck on his stick, Mackie is an artist and he showed it for the entire duration of camp. His playmaking was second to none and his shot was quick and accurate, even scoring a goal in the scrimmage for Team Red (Group A) on a one-timer that was, interestingly, assisted by Ryan McAllister (there’s chemistry between them and I am LOVING it). Samoskevich was incredible the whole week and very likely will compete for an NHL roster spot at training camp in a few months. We could very easily see Mackie Samoskevich in the NHL come October and I would not be opposed to it at all.
Gracyn Sawchyn, Age 18, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
The Panthers’ 2023 2nd round draft pick showed off some very nice skills this week. His playmaking and speed are fantastic, and his speed contributes greatly to his willingness to get physical and get involved on the boards, as well as his success in those battles. Sawchyn will definitely have to do some work on his shot and get stronger, but he’ll definitely get the time to do so at the major junior level and showed off a lot of that strong foundation that made some analysts call this pick a steal for the Panthers at 63rd overall, at times even looking like he belonged with the likes of Samoskevich and McAllister at the top of the class. Sawchyn will most likely head back to WHL Seattle for the next season and should do well with an increased role, more fine-tuning on his shot and playmaking, and more weight training and physical development. There’s a lot of upside with Sawchyn and he showed the fans in attendance plenty of good reasons to be excited about him in the future.
Wilmer Skoog, Age 23, Boston University (NCAA)
Despite not really impressing much during the drills, Wilmer Skoog came to life in the Friday scrimmage, as he scored the first goal of the game and even attempted the Michigan, even though the attempt was stonewalled by goalie Tyler Muszelik. His skating and mechanics did not impress me much during the early drills, but once the camp moved to more activities on the boards and in shooting drills, Skoog was able to impress. He likely isn’t much of a play driver, but he has confidence in his game to be a solid enough forward in the future in the organization. Skoog’s impressive college career at Boston University finished up this past season and he signed a contract to play for the Charlotte Checkers next season, so even though he may not have a contract with the Panthers, Skoog will still be very much in the organization’s orbit for the next year or two.
Sandis Vilmanis, Age 19, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Probably the biggest surprise of development camp for me, Sandis Vilmanis, a 2022 5th round pick, displayed a very impressive mix of skating, puck skills, and physicality that very few other prospects were really able to showcase in the way that he did. His performance throughout the entire camp was very impressive; Vilmanis also isn’t exactly slow either; he has nice pace once he gets going and shows that willingness to crash the net and play physical along the boards and on the forecheck that is the hallmark of a modern power forward. Couple that with the pace, puck skills, and wicked shot, and it creates a really interesting toolbox of skills. It was interesting to see him throughout the week as it felt that almost every preconception that I had about the Latvian heading into camp was proved wrong. Vilmanis will head back to OHL Sarnia next season and I will definitely be paying very close attention to his performances, as a strong performance in the season would show what Vilmanis’ true upside likely is.
DEFENSEMEN
Marek Alscher, Age 19, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
The Panthers’ 2022 3rd round pick out of WHL Portland, Marek Alscher at first looked like an old-school, big, physical defenseman whose style would not work in the modern game to me. However, during development camp, Alscher’s skating looked quite good as he was able to keep pace with some of the faster skaters in his group. His size also lends itself to good performance in board battles or attempts to shut down the rush. Alscher’s puck skills do leave a lot to be desired, but when the puck isn’t on his stick, Alscher can be a solid physical defenseman who can help shut down opposing offenses, but more likely than not in a bottom pairing role rather than a top shutdown role. Alscher will spend the 2023-24 season back with Portland in the WHL and has already signed his entry-level contract with the team.
Ludvig Jansson, Age 19, Sodertalje SK (Allsvenskan)
The Panthers’ 2022 4th round pick, stylistically, showed that he’s a bit of a polar opposite of Marek Alscher. Ludvig Jansson is a smooth skating offensive defenseman with great speed and who is very good with the puck on his stick. He also has strong control over his edges and is a very good skater in open space. Jansson isn’t really engaging in board battles or in physical play, choosing instead to try and play defense in a bit more of a modern style, focused on gap control and using the stick rather than physical play. Jansson stylistically is very similar to current Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling, and will spend another season with Sodertalje in Sweden, where he will also likely get another chance to play at the World Juniors, where he burst on to the scene this past season with 10 points in 7 games at the tournament.
Dru Krebs, Age 20, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
The younger brother of 2019 1st rounder Peyton, Dru Krebs entered the camp as a pretty unheralded invitee out of the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. Originally, I wasn’t really planning to deeply look into him or his performance, and early on, there wasn’t much to really change my view on Krebs, but as the camp went on, Krebs began to start doing very well and became one of the better defenseman at the camp in my view. His skating was solid and while he wasn’t physically imposing, he still played a solid defensive game throughout the camp both in the drills and in the scrimmage defined by nice skating and smooth movements. Krebs has already played four seasons in the WHL, so he will likely turn pro this coming season and it will be interesting to see if the Panthers give Krebs an opportunity with one of the minor league teams.
Evan Nause, Age 20, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Evan Nause, who was selected in the 2nd round in 2021 by the Panthers, was the best defenseman at development camp this year. I’ve been a fan of Nause and his game for a long time, and, seeing him live for the first time, showed me exactly why I’m such a fan. Nause’s skating is terrific; his movement is so fluid and easy. His puck skills also are solid enough; they don’t blow you away, but they’re good enough to a point where he’s far from a liability while in possession. Nause’s game is defined by simple, calm, and composed play; he has great hockey sense and is willing and able to engage in board battles and other physical plays, which he showed on several occasions during camp. Nause signed his entry-level contract before last season and will likely be spending this next season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, where he likely ends up playing in the top four.
Kasper Puutio, Age 21, KalPa Kuopio (Liiga)
The Panthers’ 5th round pick all the way back in 2020, Kasper Puutio showed off his solid skating and steady defensive play throughout development camp. In Group B, he was probably the second best defenseman behind Evan Nause (although there is some competition for that title) and much like Nause, Puutio’s game is defined more by steady play, solid skating, and composure rather than flashy plays that end up on a highlight reel. The Finnish defenseman also lacks the offensive skill and instincts that Nause has, so his upside is likely a lot lower than his Canadian counterpart. Puutio has signed a contract to play another season in the Finnish Liiga with the Lahti Pelicans for the next season, when the Panthers will ultimately decide whether or not to bring the Finnish defenseman to North America.
Chandler Romeo, Age 20, Sarnia Sting/Guelph Storm (OHL)
The former Ottawa Senators draft pick is mostly known for his hulking size, standing at 6’5” tall and weighing over 200 pounds. Romeo’s game is entirely defined by his aggression and physical play, and he showed in camp an aggressiveness in defending 2-on-1’s and a willingness to get physical along the boards or when defending the rush. Romeo’s skating is good for his size and he uses his frame very effectively to wall off attackers and keep them from penetrating the zone. The big defenseman does lack skills when it comes to carrying the puck, so much like Alscher, Romeo would likely be better served as a lower-pairing defensive defenseman if he makes it to the NHL. Romeo will spend one final season in the OHL with the Guelph Storm, who acquired him from Sarnia in the middle of the 2022-23 season, before turning pro at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
Djibril Toure, Age 20, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
The first thing that stood out about Djibril Toure was how tall he was (6’7”) and how fast he was. Toure, in my view, is the defenseman competing with Puutio for the spot as the second best defenseman in Group B behind Evan Nause. Toure’s speed and skating was very good, especially when taking his size into consideration. He likely has a little more room to gain strength, but he’s already at a size that would make him effective at the pro level. His offense and puck skills are decent, but aren’t the hallmark of Toure’s game, which is rooted in that huge size, long reach, and effective skating. Obviously, he has a nice edge to his game and a willingness to get physical; his size, reach, and skating will likely mean that an NHL team somewhere down the line probably gives Toure a contract since a combination of those things on the level that Toure has is quite rare. Toure could potentially return to Sudbury for the 2023-24 season, but could also decide to turn pro if the right opportunity presented itself.
GOALTENDERS
Olof Glifford, Age 18, HV71 Jr. (Swe. J18)
The young Swedish goaltender displayed some impressive athleticism and rebound control at times during the week and has the size and movement to become a pretty talented goaltender at the professional level. The 6’4” Swede certainly looks the part, and he managed to keep a clean sheet during his period of play during the Friday scrimmage. Glifford showed plenty of ability, but does clearly have a long way to go before getting a shot in North America, meaning he likely spends the next couple of seasons back in Sweden within the HV71 system.
Spencer Knight, Age 21, Florida Panthers (NHL)
It was great to see Spencer Knight back on the ice especially after spending the vast majority of this last season in the NHLPA Player Assistance Program and he was by far the best goalie in camp. Even though he didn’t dress for the scrimmage on Friday, Knight was absolutely incredible in the individual goalie drills on Friday and did great during a lot of the other drills where the goalies and skaters were mixed together throughout the week. His lateral movement and glove are as good as ever and he just looks like a new person; his body language and demeanor seem to be in a really good place right now. Knight may end up starting the season in the AHL with Charlotte, but expect him to be back in the NHL early next season even if he gets sent down.
Tyler Muszelik, Age 19, University of New Hampshire (NCAA)
The 2022 6th round pick was the second best goalie at camp in my opinion. During the individual goalie session on Monday, you could see with Muszelik that he had good athleticism and could swallow up pucks to avoid rebounds when needed. His movement is quite good for where he is in terms of his development as is his rebound control. His performance in the scrimmage on Friday wasn’t great, but apart from Olof Glifford, there wasn’t really a goalie who did noticeably well during the scrimmage. Muszelik will be the starter for the University of New Hampshire next season as a sophomore (he only played 13 games in his freshman season), so this coming sesaon will tell us a lot about Muszelik and his potential upside, but if his camp performance is anything to go off of, he should have a good season.
There were a lot of other players that did well during the camp, but that I wasn’t able to mention on this list (you could throw Josh Davies and Owen Brady on here as honorable mentions then) since that would make the whole thing ridiculously long, so I had to make a judgment call and leave them out. Just a quick note, but I do plan on releasing a more official and more detailed All-Development Camp teams roster in the near future just to highlight the absolute best of the best from this past week of development camp. Stay tuned for The First Annual Turnover Tuna All-Development Camp Teams coming soon!