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In Buffalo, New York, the 2026 NHL draft action kicked off with the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting Penn State winger Gavin McKenna – a pick most people expected would open the night.
From there, though, there were plenty of trades and surprises throughout the first 32 selections, but none included the Florida Panthers.
Florida spent its two first-round draft picks — their No. 9 selection and the No. 25 pick they acquired Sunday from the Seattle Kraken for forward Mackie Samoskevich — on securing Brady Tkachuk in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. Friday night was spent entertaining the possibility of a shake-up for Florida, but when the final name was called, its decision was final — it was not going to throw its hat into the first-round ring.
“It’s the same every year where you get into a cycle of phone calls and ideas and sharing possibilities and what-ifs,” general manager Bill Zito said Friday. “It’s sort of this constant buzz of what-ifs, and then not so much comes of it.”
However, while the Panthers may not have seen much action in the typical sense, there was plenty happening at Baptist Health IcePlex.
Among plenty of other activities, fans heard from the Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad and Sam Reinhart, the first and second picks in the 2014 draft, respectively. Then, Zito and coach Paul Maurice spoke to fans. They all discussed their offseasons, some positive thoughts on the team and its new additions — Tkachuk and winger Garnet Hathaway, obtained from the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday — as well as expectations and what they look forward to for next season.
Zito said himself, Maurice and the players felt a different kind of energy and excitement with the fans back in the building, one that made them eager for the season to start.
“You feel it,” Zito said. “You feel that energy really in the air.”
Before that can happen, though, the Panthers still need to get through the second day of the draft — one that they will for sure be involved in. Just the same as the first round, not everything is set in stone, but Zito hinted Florida may be fairly certain of their selections.
Zito said he is the type to know of his pick before the draft rolls around, meaning the Panthers will most likely not be winging anything Saturday. Nonetheless, there is still an excitement that comes with it for the general manager, even in the later rounds.
“There’s an excitement or an energy about this [No.] 9, but really 40 is no different,” Zito said. “The same amount of work goes into it.”
The Panthers look ahead to Saturday morning, as they look for their work to pay off on their six picks ranging from the second to seventh round. They will select twice in the second and sixth rounds and once in both the fourth and seventh rounds.
They will kick it off with the eighth pick of the day, and the draft starts at 11 a.m. ET back in Buffalo.
Continue reading...
From there, though, there were plenty of trades and surprises throughout the first 32 selections, but none included the Florida Panthers.
Florida spent its two first-round draft picks — their No. 9 selection and the No. 25 pick they acquired Sunday from the Seattle Kraken for forward Mackie Samoskevich — on securing Brady Tkachuk in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. Friday night was spent entertaining the possibility of a shake-up for Florida, but when the final name was called, its decision was final — it was not going to throw its hat into the first-round ring.
“It’s the same every year where you get into a cycle of phone calls and ideas and sharing possibilities and what-ifs,” general manager Bill Zito said Friday. “It’s sort of this constant buzz of what-ifs, and then not so much comes of it.”
However, while the Panthers may not have seen much action in the typical sense, there was plenty happening at Baptist Health IcePlex.
Among plenty of other activities, fans heard from the Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad and Sam Reinhart, the first and second picks in the 2014 draft, respectively. Then, Zito and coach Paul Maurice spoke to fans. They all discussed their offseasons, some positive thoughts on the team and its new additions — Tkachuk and winger Garnet Hathaway, obtained from the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday — as well as expectations and what they look forward to for next season.
Zito said himself, Maurice and the players felt a different kind of energy and excitement with the fans back in the building, one that made them eager for the season to start.
“You feel it,” Zito said. “You feel that energy really in the air.”
Before that can happen, though, the Panthers still need to get through the second day of the draft — one that they will for sure be involved in. Just the same as the first round, not everything is set in stone, but Zito hinted Florida may be fairly certain of their selections.
Zito said he is the type to know of his pick before the draft rolls around, meaning the Panthers will most likely not be winging anything Saturday. Nonetheless, there is still an excitement that comes with it for the general manager, even in the later rounds.
“There’s an excitement or an energy about this [No.] 9, but really 40 is no different,” Zito said. “The same amount of work goes into it.”
The Panthers look ahead to Saturday morning, as they look for their work to pay off on their six picks ranging from the second to seventh round. They will select twice in the second and sixth rounds and once in both the fourth and seventh rounds.
They will kick it off with the eighth pick of the day, and the draft starts at 11 a.m. ET back in Buffalo.
Continue reading...
