Competitors for few spots heating up as Panthers enter second week of coaching camp

The Florida Panthers have been again on the ice in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday as they resumed coaching camp following a well-earned day without work on Tuesday.

Florida endured three robust days of observe after opening camp on Thursday, after which swept Sunday’s preseason opening doubleheader towards the Nashville Predators.

Now they’re getting ready for a pair of upcoming street video games this week, Wednesday in Orlando towards the Tampa Bay Lightning and Friday in Raleigh towards the Carolina Hurricanes.

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The Panthers have but to trim down their coaching camp roster and are nonetheless operating two separate observe teams, although the make-up of every group appeared a bit totally different on Monday.

First on the ice was a set of largely NHL veterans, together with Florida’s high three ahead traces and two defensive pairings.

The highest six, which was Sasha Barkov centering Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart whereas Sam Bennett skated between Evan Rodrigues and Matthew Tkachuk, appeared the identical. Sandis Vilmanis has been taking reps on the suitable aspect of the third line subsequent to Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, although Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice indicated after observe that he deliberate to see totally different gamers attempting that spot, together with Mackie Samoskevich and Justin Sourdif.

Sourdif was skating with the veteran group on Tuesday however left observe early with what seemed to be an upper-body damage.

“The primary thought once you checked out it, as a result of it appeared like he went head first, however there is not an indication now that he is received a concussion,” Maurice stated. “It appears like he simply minimize his face up a bit of bit and he is received some upper-body stiffness.”

Whereas it seems like Sourdif might have dodged something severe, he’ll be reevaluated on Wednesday when he arrives to the rink.

Samoskevich was anticipated to skate on Tuesday however was held off as a precaution.

He is coping with an upper-body damage however has been skating and took half in Saturday’s coaching camp observe whereas carrying a gold, non-contact jersey.

“He had type of a flare up when he was again on the ice,” Maurice stated. “It did not worsen, we simply wish to get him cleaned up.”

Samoskevich will not skate in Wednesday’s sport towards Tampa Bay and sure is not going to observe absolutely with the group till Friday or Saturday, in line with Maurice.

Considered as a possible match for that third line spot, the earlier Samoskevich can get again on the ice, the higher his possibilities can be for sticking round on Opening Evening.

Within the meantime, Vilmanis has appeared good skating with Lundell and Luostarinen.

He had an enormous season with the WHL’s North Bay Battalion final yr and signed his entry-level contract with Florida in March.

“I actually favored his camp final yr, and he is a younger participant nonetheless,” Maurice stated. “There are many components of his sport that may develop, and I believe he has the talent to have it develop.”

Whereas he’ll proceed preventing for that NHL job, Vilmanis is anticipated to begin his skilled profession with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.

That being stated, it would not be the primary time a rookie confirmed up and confirmed out at an NHL camp to win a spot no one anticipated he would.

Keep tuned.

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