Florida Panthers Prospect Profile: Jonathan Ang

With the fourth round 94th overall pick in the 2016 draft the Florida Panthers selected Jonathan Ang of the Peterborough Petes (OHL). A draft pick they acquired in the Erik Gudbranson trade.

Jonathan Ang
Center — shoots R
Born Jan 31 1998 — Markham, ONT
Height 5’11 — Weight 160 lbs.    Peterborough Petes: 67GP, 27G, 32A, 59PTS

The young speedster is now in his third OHL season and thought to be the first NHL draftee of Malaysian decent. Ang who is listed as a center can also play wing and his production spiked when being moved. His stats show improvement from season to season and he posted very solid playoff numbers last season, 3 goals and 6 assists in a seven game series that his team fell short in.

The real superlative in Ang’s game is his skating, in a 2016-17 OHL coaches poll he was voted best skater in his respective Eastern conference and was runner up the previous season. He has great hands to go along with his wicked speed, very tough one on one and will be even more of a task as he builds more muscle onto his frame. He can already fight through dense networks of opposition checks and is especially dangerous when left some open ice.

Steve Kournianos at The Draft Analyst said this of Ang; “He’s dedicated towards making the right decisions that are in the team’s best interests rather than for personal gain, and you will see Ang — as fast as he is — dig in and lend support to his defensemen below the circles or along the boards.” He’s working harder on completing his play of the defensive side of the puck, also has played solid on the penalty kill for the last couple of seasons. Ang recognizes that a solid two way game is pivotal in becoming an NHLer.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Panthers were impressed enough by what they saw from him this season to sign Ang to an entry level contract. The probable option is there, let him play another year in the OHL due to his birthday landing on January 31st. I believe that would get them the best sample size they can get before seeing what he’s capable of in the AHL.

Either way with some small improvements here and there to his already dynamic game, Ang will be a fun player to watch speed through the zone and light the lamp in our red white and gold!