Florida Panthers: Top 10 Prospects Entering the 2018 Season
The Florida Panthers are a young team still building a contender. They’re hoping to make the playoffs again, and here are the 10 best prospects who can help them establish a postseason run.
The Florida Panthers came out of this past season a little worse for wear, but they’re building something. With a young core and veteran pieces that can be replaced by younger ones, the Panthers are hoping to build a playoff team. Luckily, they have several prospects who can make a difference.
The prospects below are ranked based on three factors. Ceiling, NHL readiness, and the likelihood they play with the Florida Panthers. Chief amongst these is ceiling, as that matters more with prospects and is the thing that can be forecasted most easily.
Let’s start with the goaltenders.
1. Samuel Montembeault [21] (3-77, 2015)
Stats (Springfield Thunderbirds, AHL): 41 games played, 3.25 goals against average, .896 save percentage., 2 shutouts.
Samuel Montembeault had a truly bad season, though he was given the chance to start for an AHL team. It was one that didn’t make the playoffs despite some excellent scorers, so he might not have had the best defense in front of him.
Still, his save percentage leaves a lot of room to be desired, even if he is only 21. He was second to last amongst rookie goaltenders in the AHL in goals-against average and was third to last in save percentage (both amongst goalies with more than 20 games played).
This season, he also got two shutouts, which really proves he could have better numbers
What Montembeault has going for him, and what provides hope for a brighter future, is that he was good in his QMJHL years and the Florida Panthers saw enough in him to take him in the third round (high for a goaltender) just three years ago. This season, he also got two shutouts, which really proves he could have better numbers with more defensive help in front of him. That could arrive this season.
Montembeault’s ceiling is hard to determine because first, he must prove to be better than this season. If he doesn’t, he’s at most an NHL short-term backup. If he does, he could still become something. 21 is incredibly young for a goaltender, and it would be hard to blame Montembeault for not being in his prime at this age. Arguably the best rookie goaltender in the AHL this season was Oscar Dansk, who is two years older than Montembeault.
2. Evan Cowley [23] (4-92, 2013)
Stats (Springfield Thunderbirds, AHL): 14 gp, 3.13 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO.
Stats (Manchester Monarchs, ECHL): 19 gp, 3.15 GAA, .902 SV%, 2 SO (4 playoff games played, 1.70 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO).
Cowley was better than Montembeault in the AHL and was perhaps the best goaltender to play games for the Springfield Thunderbirds this past season. Plus, at 23, he’s more ready for a starting role than somebody of Montembeault’s age. He was also a higher goaltender selection, and even in brief stints this season proved that he deserves a long-term job somewhere in the Florida Panthers’ system.
[Cowley] was perhaps the best goaltender to play games for the Springfield Thunderbirds this past season
Evan Cowley had a .901 save percentage in the AHL and had a shutout (half of what Montembeault accomplished) in just 14 games. In the ECHL, Cowley proved even more valuable, getting two shutouts in just 19 games and coming up with a .902 save percentage.
In the playoffs, Cowley did his best to drive the Manchester Monarchs past the first round but was unsuccessful. He posted a 1.70 GAA and .917 save percentage, the 12th best save percentage in the ECHL playoffs and the fourth best GAA. He also got a shutout in one of those four games.
Perhaps the problem with the goaltenders in the Florida Panthers’ pipeline isn’t the goaltenders themselves. Perhaps, with a better team in front of them, the goaltenders could be much better.