In the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft, the Florida Panthers selected a forward for the first time of the day.
The Florida Panthers acquired the 81st pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for picks 104 and 114. The Panthers would go on to select RW Cole Schwindt from Kitchener (ON), Canada.
6’3″, 176 lbs and right-handed, Schwindt played for the Mississauga Steelheads during the 2018-19 season. In 68 games, Schwindt recorded 19G, 30A, for 49 points. The previous year (2017-18) – his rookie season with the Fish – Schwindt put up 8G, 10A, and 18 points in 66 games.
A player known for his offensive instincts, Schwindt likes to get up in the play and provide his team with a reliable scoring option. He has a good release from in tight and knows when to pick his moments in and around the goal.
Schwindt will need to add some size to his current frame, but with time, that will come. Defensively, he isn’t too bad and can be relied upon to defend against top matchups. For someone his age, he’s around where he should be on the defensive spectrum.
Cole’s ceiling is around top-nine potential, with a good chance he could play an important role on a team’s fourth line. He most likely won’t turn out to be a 15-goal scorer, but he could offer adequate production in the near future.
For the Panthers, this is a safe pick to take in the third round and one that could turn out nicely if Cole Schwindt’s development goes as planned.
He will return to Mississauga next season and continue his progression in the OHL – a league he’s not only familiar with but comfortable playing and growing in.
With an already-growing forward base in the farm system, Cole Schwindt only adds onto that and provides the Cats with a solid depth option for the future.