The Hypothetical Question
It has been five years since Dale Tallon took over the GM position for the Florida Panthers. He has slowly but surely put together this team. Only one player predates Tallon’s arrival in Sunrise and that is Dmitri Kulikov. We know what Tallon has assembled on the NHL roster. But what future NHL players does he have bubbling under at the prospect level?
AHL
Rocco Grimaldi- In his rookie AHL season Grimaldi put up 42 points in 64 games and managed to get himself into seven NHL games as well, where he scored his first NHL goal. This guy gets around the ice like a little water bug and should be able to translate the offense to the NHL, most likely with Barkov as Rocco is a high volume shooter.
Connor Brickley- He was a complete surprise in the AHL this season. Connor picked up 47 points in 73 games in his rookie campaign, finishing in the top 10 of AHL rookie scoring. If he stays at this trajectory, he could be a third line winger for the Cats.
Garett Wilson- It was a solid season for the big man in San Antonio. His game projects out to be a menace in the corners and a tough guy to move out of the front of the net. I could see him playing a 4th line role shortly.
Quinton Howden- Injuries have really derailed his game. If he could ever stay healthy he would make for an extremely speedy checker in the NHL. A third or fourth line guy that is good on the fore check and great on the PK.
Mackenzie Weegar- Little Mack split this season between the ECHL and the AHL where he did what he does as a PP quarterback. There may be a spot for him in the NHL in a couple years but for right now Stephen Kampfer is holding his job.
College
Kyle Rau- Rau had a very consistent college career and excels at all areas of the game for a smaller guy. He’ll be getting some top minutes in the minors next season with the hopes of lining up beside his old college buddy Bjugstad again in the not too distant future. Michael Matheson- Matheson captained Boston College and wrapped up his college career. Next season he is on track to play top minutes in the AHL. He needs a little more seasoning to his game. He plays a very similar style to Brian Campbell. If he even pans out close to Campbell it would be quite a nice pickup for the Cats. Zach Hyman- Hyman scored more points in his final college season than in all his other seasons combined. I wouldn’t be surprised if he signs elsewhere as Florida doesn’t have a lot of room for the one-year wonder.
Evan Cowley- The late draft pick is probably the most promising goalie prospect the Cats currently have. He’s put up splendid numbers so far. But the Cats could probably use another top goalie prospect in the system.
Ian McCoshen- McCoshen helped ease Noah Hanifin into college hockey this past season. McCoshen plays a solid game in all areas and projects to be a top 4 dman in the not too distant future as he already has NHL size and skating. He is going back to college next season to finish his degree and anchor the defense.
Junior
Jayce Hawryluk- The only promising junior hockey player the Panthers have in the system is Wheat Kings forward Hawryluk. A shorter stocky player he projects to be a more talented Brendan Gallagher type with a strong two way game. Hawryluk is currently on a tear in the WHL playoffs where his team is going up against Kelowna for the WHL title.
Five years after Tallon was hired the Panthers have the makings of icing a top club for the foreseeable future with these prospects bubbling under in the system. He’s going to have to make some moves to free up space for these prospects shortly. Tallon is showing that he is great at rebuilding a franchise, as we already knew him to be. But the killer question always is, who goes to make room for the new batch of talent coming into the pipeline?
