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Florida Panthers: Four Prospects that Could Make the Roster Soon

By Cal Friedman |
LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 20: Look on Springfield Thunderbirds forward Henrik Borgstrom (5) at warm-up before the Springfield Thunderbirds versus the Laval Rocket game on October 20, 2018, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 20: Look on Springfield Thunderbirds forward Henrik Borgstrom (5) at warm-up before the Springfield Thunderbirds versus the Laval Rocket game on October 20, 2018, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The Florida Panthers have underperformed thus far; however, there’s plenty of time left for some new faces to settle in.

LAVAL, QC – OCTOBER 20: Springfield Thunderbirds forward Henrik Borgstrom (5) plays with the puck at warm-up before the Springfield Thunderbirds versus the Laval Rocket game on October 20, 2018, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC – OCTOBER 20: Springfield Thunderbirds forward Henrik Borgstrom (5) plays with the puck at warm-up before the Springfield Thunderbirds versus the Laval Rocket game on October 20, 2018, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

This season is already being written off as a wash by some fans, with Bob Boughner’s unit recording just one win in regulation across nine games.

The team has struggled on both special teams units, limiting turnovers, and between the pipes. Something has to give soon, there’s going to have to be a spark at some point this season to get this team going.

This spark can come from the minors, as the Panthers are in need of some serious depth with some bottom liners that have underperformed to begin the year.

Here are some players from the farm system that I believe can spark the Florida Panthers this season.

#1: Henrik Borgström (C-LW)

MONTREAL, QC – SEPTEMBER 19: Florida Panthers center Henrik Borgstrom (95) skates during the third period of the NHL preseason game between the New Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens on September 19, 2018, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – SEPTEMBER 19: Florida Panthers center Henrik Borgstrom (95) skates during the third period of the NHL preseason game between the New Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens on September 19, 2018, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The decision to start 2016 first-round draft pick Henrik Borgström turned a lot of heads in September after the forward seemed to have a spot on the Panthers’ third line all but locked up.

Borgstrom played the last four games of the 2017-18 season and was on the Panthers’ roster for the entire preseason, yet started this year’s regular season in Springfield.

Whether that decision was right or not is still up in the air, but Borgström’s play at the AHL level suggests he is ready for the NHL.

Borgstrom has scored four times in eight AHL games, all coming from even strength. He’s also chimed in with seven assists, putting him at a 1.38 point per game average. The young Finn has also yet to take a penalty this season, making him one of two skaters (Patrik Bajkov and Thomas Schemitsch) yet to do so.

Henrik has excelled for his team and has shown a serious determination to wearing the Panthers red sooner rather than later. Borgström is diverse and could fit in playing down the middle, replacing Juho Lammikko, or on the left for Frank Vatrano or Maxim Mamin.

He’s looked the busiest early on, but the question remains: will the Cats call him up when needed?

#2: Anthony Greco (RW)

SUNRISE, FL – SEPTEMBER 27: Anthony Greco #74 of the Florida Panthers skates prior to the game against the Nashville Predators during a preseason game at the BB&T Center on September 27, 2016 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – SEPTEMBER 27: Anthony Greco #74 of the Florida Panthers skates prior to the game against the Nashville Predators during a preseason game at the BB&T Center on September 27, 2016 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /

For 25-year old Anthony Greco, making the preseason roster and excelling was an exciting moment for him in his NHL career.

The winger was set back years ago after suffering an injury in his freshman season at Ohio State University, coming off a 46-point season in USHL. He came back to play out his last three years, averaging 20.3 points, and becoming captain of the Buckeyes.

He couldn’t cut it with hometown team New York Islanders and was claimed by the Florida Panthers. He hadn’t sniffed NHL action since this preseason, with 79 points across two seasons for Springfield. Once he got that whiff of the NHL, he elevated his game.

Greco is tied for third in scoring on Springfield, with four goals and six assists across nine games. He’s tallied two goals on the power play and remains with a strong +/- of 2.

He’s earned rave reviews for his performances and now looks to do it on the big stage as a possible bottom-six winger.

Whether he can make the cut is uncertain, but with his drive, he’s sure to put in some effort-filled showings if he can make it to the top.

#3: Jacob MacDonald (Defenseman)

TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 06: Jacob MacDonald #23 of the Florida Panthers shoots the puck in the first period during Opening Night against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on October 6, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 06: Jacob MacDonald #23 of the Florida Panthers shoots the puck in the first period during Opening Night against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on October 6, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Everyone’s surprise player on the opening roster, young defensemen Jacob MacDonald caught the eyes of everyone in Panthers media over the course of September and October.

The Canadian played in every preseason game, seriously impressing Bob Boughner and Dale Tallon to beat Ian McCoshen to the 7th defenseman roster spot.

MacDonald then surprised all of the NHL as he scored on his first NHL shot – past Andrei Vasilevskiy, no less – to give Florida a 1-0 lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning on opening night.

After one more game for Florida, MacDonald returned to Springfield once MacKenzie Weegar returned from injury.

The calls of a return are growing as he’s been almost perfect at the AHL level – three goals and four assists across six games, +6 – almost looking to be too good for Springfield.

The Panthers’ defensive unit has been a tricky one this year, with bottom pairing Alex Petrovic and Bogdan Kiselevich looking better than top players Aaron Ekblad and Keith Yandle on defense.

It’s almost to the point where you wonder if MacDonald would replace Mark Pysyk instead, a weird idea that may come true if the Oregon native keeps up his top form.

#4: Owen Tippett (RW)

SUNRISE, FL – OCTOBER 30: Owen Tippett #74 of the Florida Panthers skates on the ice prior to the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the BB&T Center on October 30, 2017 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL – OCTOBER 30: Owen Tippett #74 of the Florida Panthers skates on the ice prior to the start of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the BB&T Center on October 30, 2017 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2017’s first-overall draft pick didn’t make his mark in his first South Florida stint, but who’s to say that isn’t set to change.

Owen Tippett has been back home for the Mississauga Steelheads in perfect form, shattering his record points with 75 across 51 games last season.

He’s continued to grow in this young season; 16 points across his first 10 games, finding the back of the net ten times, leading the team in goals and points.

Tippett’s biggest issue right now has to be the inability to play with the big boys. The winger struggled in his five games with Springfield last season (1 goal, 1 assist), and really struggled to impress at the NHL level.

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His situation, however, limits him on making a reappearance until later on in the season. The Cats didn’t place Tippett in the AHL and allowed him to return to the Steelheads, who are a junior team.

Due to NHL rule, Tippett has to complete a full season of juniors before being eligible to return to the Panthers’ roster. The regular season for Mississauga ends on March 17th, 2019, not counting any possible playoff games.

At that point, the Panthers would’ve finished their California road trip and headed towards Dallas, their 72nd game of the season. Whether Tippett would be considered with only ten regular season games left depends on where the Cats stand in the playoff race, but keeping up his personal pace would only help his odds.

Despite only being in the OHL, it’s hard to deny his developing shot and effort on the offensive end to create chances. The Panthers’ bottom-six have combined for just five goals this season, so the addition of Tippett in place of a Maxim Mamin may help more than hurt.

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