Florida Panthers: Four prospects that prove the Cats’ future is bright
The Florida Panthers have struggled to gather a pipeline that ranks top in the NHL. However, they still have talented prospects that should impact the team in near future.
When The Hockey Writers released their NHL Farm Rankings for the upcoming season, the Florida Panthers dropped two spots and were ranked 22nd overall.
While the collective thought seems to agree with this statement and the opinion that the Panthers do not have a top prospect group, the Cats have still acquired/drafted a few amount of players who eventually project to make an impact on the team.
Those players currently play in various leagues around North America, and have made a tremendous impact this season for their respective teams. These four players should be enough to keep Panthers fans’ hopes up.
Note: NO PLAYERS in this list are currently playing on an NHL roster. All stats are updated as of December 12th, 2017. The list is in no particular order.
Owen Tippett (RW)
The overall top prospect for the Florida Panthers among various players is the right-winger Owen Tippett.
Tippett, 18, was selected with the 10th pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft out of Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL. Tippett projects to be a sniper in the NHL with a clear ability to shoot from anywhere on the ice. This is clearly shown by Tippett’s 44 goals in 60 games last season in the OHL.
Tippett began the 2017-18 season on the Florida Panthers’ opening roster but only played seven games before being sent back to juniors. In those seven games, Tippett recorded 1G, 1PT, and a -6 rating.
After being sent back to the OHL, Owen has continued to impress. In just 14 games played, Tippett has already tallied 6 goals and 10 assists on the Steelheads’ first line. In his last 5 games played, Tippett has scored 2 goals and 2 assists, good for 4 points total.
While Tippett likely will not be on the NHL roster this season at any point, he projects to fight for a spot on the Panthers’ top 6 next season and beyond.
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Henrik Borgstrom (C)
While Tippett may be the best prospect the Panthers have in juniors, the Finnish center Henrik Borgstrom may be the most exciting to watch.
In 2015, Borgstrom was passed on in the NHL Draft due to never playing in a top league or a major international tournament for his country. But in 2016, Borgstrom was taken in the first round by the Panthers, something that was considered a reach to some.
At 6’3”, Henrik has the size that NHL teams want. Pair that with his hands that can dazzle anyone and his playmaking ability, he holds value for the future with the Florida Panthers. Whether the value is held at center or wing, Borgstrom himself will be a force to be reckoned with. Having Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck as the team’s top two centerman’s, the youngster may be called upon to play on the wing.
In his freshman season for Denver (NCAA), Borgstrom recorded 43 points (22 G, 21 A) in 37 games played. His production was enough for Denver to win the NCAA National Championship. In his Sophomore season, Henrik has taken an enormous step forward, scoring 13 goals and assisting on another 10 in 15 games.
While it’s unlikely that Borgstrom will crack the top 6 next season, it seems likely that Borgstrom will receive NHL time next season for the Panthers.
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Samuel Montembeault (G)
While the Panthers don’t have many top goalie prospects the team can rely on, the Cats’ do have at least one who looks likely to eventually crack the NHL roster at some point (Samuel Montembeault).
Montembeault was drafted by the Florida Panthers with the 77th pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and it looks likely that he is the heir to the throne when Roberto Luongo retires.
Last season in the QMJHL, Montembeault played in 41 games for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. In those 41 games, Samuel allowed just 2.40 goals against (GAA) and had a save percentage (SV%) of .907. In the playoffs, Montembeault recorded a .910 save percentage.
This season, Samuel was brought up to AHL affiliate (Springfield Thunderbirds) but has struggled since. In 15 games played so far, Montembeault holds a save percentage of .895 and has allowed 3.15 goals per game.
Despite the struggling start to the season, Montembeault is still the best prospect between the pipes for the Panthers, especially at the young age of just 21.
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Aleksi Heponiemi (C)
Few things for the Florida Panthers have been as consistent as the Finnish scouting department for the Panthers. The scouting department has already brought the team Aleksander Barkov, Henrik Haapala and Henrik Borgstrom, and has now discovered Heponiemi, a certain wildcard for the Panthers.
Heponiemi is currently playing in the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos and has absolute taken the league by storm. In 100 regular season games played in two seasons, Heponiemi has scored 47 goals, and has assisted on 110 goals (157 points).
As a 2017 scouting report by Hockey Prospect stated, “(Heponiemi) is dynamic and can create space for himself and his teammates because he makes quick decisions and has tremendous foot speed.”
At only 18 and not turning 19 until 2019, Heponiemi is likely a few years away from cracking the Panthers lineup. However, his talent is hard to pass up and will be a valuable piece for the Cats when he finally makes the lineup.
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Next: James Reimer, what is he to the team and what is his future?