- Shortly after repping Latvia at the World Juniors, Panthers forward prospect Sandis Vilmanis is heading from the OHL’s Sarnia Sting to the North Bay Battalion. The Panthers’ 2022 fifth-round pick is still 19 years old and just rattled off four points in five games for Latvia at the WJC, making himself just one of two players on the roster to score twice. Only four out of 20 OHL teams do not make the playoffs – Sarnia is in position to be one of those teams, making sense that they’d sell off one of their better players to a North Bay team that’s fourth in the league’s Eastern Conference. Vilmanis’ 28 points through 30 games are third on the Sting in scoring.
Panthers Rumors
Nick Cousins In Concussion Protocol
- Panthers winger Nick Cousins is in concussion protocol, the team announced (Twitter link). He was injured late in the second period of last night’s game against Arizona on a hit that has Jason Zucker facing potential supplemental discipline. The 30-year-old has drawn the ire of a couple of opponents in recent weeks with Columbus blueliner Erik Gudbranson also taking exception to a hit. Cousins is having his worst offensive season so far, notching just two goals and three assists in 37 games.
Panthers Sign Uvis Balinskis To Two-Year Extension
The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Uvis Balinskis to a two-year contract extension. The terms of the deal have not yet been revealed. Balinskis is in his first season in North American pros and has assimilated well, scoring seven points in seven AHL games and two points in 18 NHL games. Panthers general manager Bill Zito shared, “[Balinskis’] successful transition to North American play enabled him to make an immediate impact, and we are excited to have him continue as a professional within our organization.”
Balinskis has spent the last three seasons in the Czechia Extraliga, Czechia’s top league, spending two seasons with Litvinov HC and one with Liberec Bili Tygri HC. He proved productive in the league, capping off his years in Czechia with 11 goals and 35 points in 50 games – leading all of the league’s defensemen in goals and points. The year was enough to impress the Panthers, who signed Balinskis to a one-year, $950K contract in April. He is currently assigned to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, where he leads all players in points-per-game.
Bavinskis adds to what is quickly becoming a robust Panthers defense room. The team is getting great production from their blue-liners with Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour back in the lineup, and Bavinskis is joined in the AHL by depth in Lucas Carlsson – who has 24 points in 30 AHL games – and Santtu Kinnunen, a former seventh-round pick performing well in only his second year in North American pros.
Gracyn Sawchyn Traded In WHL
- Florida Panthers prospect Gracyn Sawchyn was traded in the WHL today, dealt to the Edmonton Oil Kings in a deal that included seven draft picks headed the other way. Although the Oil Kings have struggled this season they’re likely to improve greatly with the addition of Sawchyn, who the Panthers drafted 63rd overall at the 2023 draft. Sawchyn’s NHL future is a topic of debate and division amongst third-party publications, as he was ranked as high as 13th overall in the class (by Elite Prospects) and as low as 49th (TSN’s Bob McKenzie).
Jonah Gadjovich Remains Out Wednesday
- Also remaining out of the lineup tonight is Panthers enforcer Jonah Gadjovich, via Florida Hockey Now’s Colby Guy. It’s unclear whether he’s a healthy scratch or if he’s still battling the illness that kept him out of the lineup for four games before the holiday break. The 25-year-old has one assist and 43 penalty minutes in nine contests this season, averaging only 6:42 per game.
Anton Lundell Returns After Missing Four Games Due To Illness
- The Panthers will welcome back center Anton Lundell today against Vegas, relays team reporter Jameson Olive (Twitter link). The 22-year-old has missed the last four games due to illness but was recently activated off injured reserve. Lundell is off to a slow start to his third NHL season as he has just two goals and ten assists in his first 28 games.
Anton Lundell To Return From Illness Tomorrow
- Panthers center Anton Lundell will be activated off injured reserve before tomorrow’s game against the Golden Knights as he “should be” ready to return from an illness, head coach Paul Maurice said Friday (via Panthers senior digital content manager Jameson Olive). Lundell was close to returning for last night’s 4-1 loss to the Blues but could not play. The 22-year-old has missed the last four games with an undisclosed illness that was serious enough to warrant an injured reserve placement, opening up a roster spot. The Panthers have an active roster of 22 players, so they won’t need to make a corresponding transaction to make room for Lundell once the holiday roster freeze lifts on December 28. Through 28 games, the third-year two-way center has two goals and ten assists for 12 points.
Anton Lundell Uncertain For Thursday's Game, Jonah Gadjovich Remains Out
- Panthers center Anton Lundell will be a game-time decision against the Blues on Thursday as he deals with an illness, head coach Paul Maurice said today. Lundell has missed the last three games with the ailment, which was severe enough to warrant being placed on injured reserve on Monday. The 22-year-old is still in the development stage of his career after the Panthers selected him 12th overall in the 2020 draft, but his stagnating offensive totals since his 44-point rookie season cause some concern. Through 28 games this year, Lundell has two goals and ten assists for 12 points and a +4 rating while averaging 15:38 per game.
- Sticking with Florida, Maurice also confirmed winger Jonah Gadjovich will remain out with an illness for tomorrow’s game. Since signing a one-year deal with the Panthers a few days after the season began in October, the fourth-line grinder has played in nine games, recording one assist and a whopping 43 penalty minutes while averaging 6:42 per contest. He has been unavailable for the team’s last two contests but was a healthy scratch in three preceding games, meaning he hasn’t suited up since December 8 against the Penguins.
Florida Panthers Reassign Justin Sourdif
Dec. 19: It was a quick stay for Sourdif on the NHL roster, as David Dwork of The Hockey News reports he’s been returned to Charlotte this morning. Sourdif was a healthy scratch in last night’s 3-1 loss to the Flames.
Dec. 18: The Florida Panthers recalled forward prospect Justin Sourdif from their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers today.
Although the Panthers are set to take on the Calgary Flames tonight, Sourdif is not slated to take a spot in the team’s forward lineup. Instead, this recall appears to have been made in order to provide the Panthers with additional cover at the forward position, something made necessary due to the fact that Anton Lundell and Jonah Gadjovich are currently sick and therefore out of the lineup.
Sourdif is a 21-year-old Canadian winger who has developed nicely since Florida selected him 87th overall at the 2020 NHL draft. The former WHL champion made his professional debut last season, skating in a total of 48 games for the Checkers. The speedy, tenacious forward scored 24 points in his rookie AHL campaign.
So far this season, Sourdif has taken real steps forward in terms of his development. He’s already scored 12 points in just 18 games, and is now playing an important top-six role next to Mackie Samoskevich in Charlotte.
His speed and competitiveness make him an ideal candidate for a call-up in a bottom-six role, and his offensive development suggests there could be more than just a future in an NHL bottom-six in store for Sourdif.
Right now, though, he’s likely to be on the Panthers roster in just a reserve capacity. If he does end up skating in a few more NHL games (he has already played in three this season) those contests should be seen as an opportunity for Sourdif to get more familiar with the expectations of playing in the NHL with an eye towards making a push for a more lasting spot on the Panthers in 2024-25.
Panthers Recall Will Lockwood
After sending defenseman Uvis Balinskis down yesterday, the Panthers didn’t waste any time filling their open roster spot. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled winger William Lockwood from AHL Charlotte.
The 25-year-old is in his first season after splitting last year between the Canucks and Rangers, primarily suiting up with their AHL affiliates. He became a Group Six unrestricted free agent and inked a two-year, two-way deal with the Panthers on the second day of free agency.
Lockwood has split the season between Florida and Charlotte. He has gotten into seven games with the Panthers and has been held pointless while logging just 7:27 per night on the fourth line. Meanwhile, with the Checkers, Lockwood has fared much better, putting up three goals and four assists in 14 games with them so far.
Lockwood is three NHL games away from needing to pass through waivers again but with the Panthers now carrying 14 forwards on their active roster, playing time may be difficult to come by in the short term. Anton Lundell missed Florida’s last game due to illness but it’s not supposed to keep him out for long so Lockwood is likely to serve as a spare forward for the time being.