FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers solidified the current core of the franchise earlier this week, re-signing a trio of veterans that were key in their run to back-to-back titles.
Meanwhile, what very well may be the future of the franchise was on the ice in Fort Lauderdale.
The Panthers wrapped up their player development camp with a scrimmage on Thursday, pitting two teams against each other that were composed of some of the top prospects in Florida’s organization — including five of their six selections from the draft.
“I can’t say enough about the group,” said Panthers’ director of player personnel, Bryan McCabe. “Everyone came in and got what they needed out of it. Now they’ll go back and put their work boots on for the summer.”
As for who stood out throughout the week, McCabe highlighted the Panthers’ top selection from the draft: Mads Kongsbak Klyvo, the Danish winger taken No. 112.
“I talked to him at midnight after he got drafted; he was in Denmark. He was here the next day,” McCabe said. “So it’s a quick turnaround, very overwhelming for these kids.”
Though it didn’t seem to matter to Klyvo, who put an exclamation point on his week by scoring a goal in the shootout after the second and final period.
“He’s got an unbelievable personality, a smile on his face; what we seek,” McCabe said of Klyvo. “Guys that want to be here and are eager and excited to learn, and it’s great to see kids coming in with that attitude.”
He also pointed to forward Hunter St. Martin, who got a vote of confidence from the Panthers’ brass last October with an entry-level contract and continued impressing this week in his second development camp with Florida.
“Pace sets him apart from everyone else,” McCabe said. “He can fly out there. It’s really natural to him, and that’s something that’s going to help him evolve moving forward. If you can skate and keep up in this league, you’re going to have a good chance to play a lot of years.”
The scrimmage — only two periods with a shootout after each — ended 3-2 in favor of the Red Team and was decided by defenseman Jonas Woo’s goal in the final shootout.
“Just trying to read the goalie. I watched a couple guys go ahead of me, and what I knew was what I was going to do,” Woo said. “I wasn’t drafted, so I came here with high hopes and was just trying to show what I can do.”
Some of the second-year prospects in attendance were fighting to carve out a spot on the Panthers’ actual roster this week. However, others, like those taken in last week’s draft, will be returning to their respective amateur leagues, and were in Fort Lauderdale this week to soak up as much as they can before then.
“I try to take away the big key points,” said Tyler Muszelik, a goaltender from UConn in his second development camp with the Panthers. “Just listening to what they think. They know my game, I know my game, and what they think will help me throughout this season and hopefully my pro career.”