In between a historic Stanley Cup Finals victory and a critical free agency period, the Florida Panthers stopped in Las Vegas for the 2024 NHL Draft. Florida added six new players to its organization on Saturday despite starting the draft on Friday with no picks in the first two rounds.
“We have to work harder because now the expectation is there,” Panthers General Manager Bill Zito said. “The standards are starting to get set. We’re going to have keep them, improve them and work harder.”
Round 2, Pick 58: Linus Eriksson (Center, Sweden)
Although the Panthers entered the draft with no second round pick, a swap with the Toronto Maple Leafs put them in position to make their first pick at No. 58 in exchange for Florida’s seventh-round pick and a second-round pick in 2025.
Florida used the pick on Eriksson, a 6-foot center from Sweden. NHL Central Scouting ranks Eriksson as the 10th European skater in the draft. The 18-year-old said he models his game after Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.
“It’s the best team in the league right now. It’s going to be really fun to get there and see everything,” he said.
Round 3, Pick 97: Matvei Shuravin (Defenseman, Russia)
In what was supposed to be the Panthers’ first selection of the draft, Florida opted for a defensive prospect in Shuravin. He played for CSKA Moscow and holds the record for youngest goal-scorer in franchise history at 17 years, 208 days old. He ranked 15th among European skaters in the draft.
“I’m really happy,” he said. “It’s great to be in this organization. I’m really happy. The best team at the draft.”
Round 4, Pick 129: Simon Zether (Center, Sweden)
The second Swedish center taken by Florida in the draft, Zether’s best asset as a prospect is his size. He measured 6-foot-3 and weighed in at 187 pounds. He compared himself to current Panthers center Kevin Stenlund.
“But I’ve got a long way to go to be like him,” he said.
Florida had a fifth-round pick, but dished it in a trade with Seattle for an additional sixth-round selection and regained a pick in the final round.
Round 6, Pick 169: Stepan Gorbunov (Center, Russia)
The biggest and youngest prospect in the Panthers’ 2024 draft class is Gorbunov. Still 17 years old, Gorbunov is a 6-foot-5, 196-pound forward with high upside. He scored 22 points in 40 games this season in the Moscow Hockey League.
Round 6, Pick 193: Hunter St. Martin (Left Wing, Canada)
With their own sixth-round pick, the Panthers took Hunter St. Martin out of the WHL. The 19-year-old left wing had 52 points in 68 games last season with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Round 7, Pick 201: Denis Gabdrakhmanov (Goaltender, Russia)
With its final pick, Florida selected its first and only goaltender prospect of the draft. Gabdrakhmanov posted a .924 save percentage with 2.55 goals against on average last season for the Tyumesnki Legion of the NHL.
