Florida Panthers Select Six Players at 2026 NHL Draft
NHL.com • • sports
Key Points:
- The Florida Panthers selected six players in the 2026 NHL Draft, aiming to integrate them into their team as noted by GM Bill Zito.
- Key picks include Simas Ignatavicius (2nd round, 40th overall), a Lithuanian forward with experience in the Swiss National League, and Ryder Cali (2nd round, 48th overall), a Canadian forward from the OHL.
- Other notable draftees are Jonas Kemps (4th round), a defenseman from the USHL, and Vilho Vanhatalo (6th round), a Finnish forward who played for Tappara Tampere and represented Finland internationally.
- Later picks include Cole Zurawski (6th round), an OHL forward committed to Notre Dame, and Louis-Antoine Denault (7th round), a goaltender from the QMJHL with a strong save percentage and prior attendance at Panthers' development camps.
- The Panthers are focusing on players with diverse international and junior league experience, reflecting a strategic approach to building their future roster.
