'It was great': Panthers hit their targets on Day 2 of 2023 NHL Draft

NASHVILLE --The Florida Panthers were feeling very fortuitous after the 2023 NHL Draft.

Getting to hold onto all five of their picks on Day 2, they successfully managed to secure the players they wanted without having to sacrifice even more draft capital to make it happen.

In the end, they walked away with two forwards, two defensemen and one goalie.

"The scouts were pretty happy," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. "There were a couple of situations where we tried to move up, but ended up getting the player anyway. It was great."

For a rundown of the Panthers' latest draft class, continue reading below.

Gracyn Sawchyn (2nd round, 63rd overall)

Position: C

DOB:Jan. 19, 2005 (Grande Prairie, Alberta)

Height:5'11''

Weight:165 lbs.

Shoots:Right

2022-23 Team:Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

The Panthers made a splash with their first pick.

Considered by pundits as potential late first-round pick based on numerous rankings leading up to the draft, Sawchyn somehow fell into the lap of the Panthers at the end of the second round.

"It worked out for us," said Zito, who explored trading up to avoid missing out on the pick.

After watching the Panthers throughout their run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, Sawchyn, who talked to Florida "multiple times" prior to the draft, said he's excited to join a team on the rise.

"Obviously they made a good run this year," said Sawchyn, who's looking forward to his first trip to the Sunshine State. "Great team. Looks like a lot of fun. It's Florida. I'm super excited."

An elite puck-handler and skilled passer, Sawchyn's flashes are as bright as they come and his ceiling certainly appears to be higher than most players you'd find in this spot. But at same time, the 18-year-old forward isn't all just about highlight-reel plays. His game also has an edge to it.

"I think I bring a lot of skill along with a lot of compete and grit," said Sawchyn, who pointed out the similarities between that sort of mentality and the new-look playstyle of the Panthers. "I think that's a big thing that separates me from other players is that grit along with that skill."

Producing at a point-per-game clip during his first season in the WHL, Sawchyn registered 58 points (18 goals, 40 assists) in 58 games. Playing a key role in helping the Thunderbirds win the 2023 WHL Championship, he logged 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 17 playoff games.

In Game 4 of the WHL Final, Sawchyn produced a goal and an assist to earn first-star honors and guide Seattle to a 4-2 win and a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Winnipeg Ice.

"Long runs, long seasons, that's a big part of [growing]," Sawchyn said.

What makes Sawchyn's numbers during his debut season in the WHL even more impressive is the fact that he wasn't event typically playing within the team's top-six. Loaded up front, Seattle boasted seven drafted players on its roster, including a trio of players taken in the first round.

Yet, Sawchyn was still able to stand out from the crowd.

"Every team has a chance to pick what they need," he said. "I'm glad I went to Florida."

Albert Wikman (4th round, 127th overall)

Position:D

DOB:March 10, 2005 (Karlstad, Sweden)

Height: 6'1''

Weight: 198 lbs.

Shoots:Left

2022-23 Team:Färjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell), Färjestad BK (SHL)

Wikman's impressive skating ability already elevates his floor quite a bit as a prospect.

Through his unique blend of size and quickness, the 18-year-old defenseman has shown the ability to not only generate offense off the rush, but also suffocate the opposition defensively.

At 6-foot-1 and 198 pounds, he also has great size for his age.

"A bigger guy, but he's mobile," Zito said.

In addition to evolving into one of the team's premier play-killers, Wikman tallied 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 43 games with Färjestad BK J20 in J20 Nationell in Sweden in 2022-23. Also getting a taste of the pros, he suited up in 11 games for Färjestad BK in the SHL.

"For the scouts, seeing those younger players in the men's leagues crossing the nexus of, 'Now I see them in a higher level, a higher level of play, everything,'" Zito said when asked about Wikman's experience in the SHL. "If they can exist in that arena, it makes it easier to project."

Internationally, Wikman won a silver medal with Sweden at the 2023 U18 World Juniors.

Olof Glifford (5th round, 159th overall)

Position:G

DOB:Marc 5, 2005 (Huskvarna, Sweden)

Height: 6'4''

Weight:198 lbs.

Catches: Left

2022-23 Team: HV71 J18 (J18 Nationell), HV71 J20 (J20 Nationell)

What's better than a goalie with a great name and good size?

Leaning on the organization's Goaltending Excellence Department, the Panthers feel they found another gem between the pipes with the selection of Glifford, who stands an imposing 6-foot-4.

After missing the 2021-22 season due to an injury, Zito said he might've flown under the radar a bit.

"He's a great big guy," he said. "He was injured, so he missed almost a whole year."

Manning the crease for HV71 J18 in J18 Nationell in Sweden, Glifford posted a 6-5-0 record and ranked first among all goaltenders that made at least 10 appearances with a .929 save percentage. In three games with HV71's J20 club, he looked even better while compiling .949 save percentage.

Headed by Hall of Famer Roberto Luongo, the Goaltending Excellence Department has a "very thorough vetting process" before coming to a consensus decision on a goalie, according to Zito.

"They're very thorough and have a lot of different voices," Zito said.

With that, you have to feel pretty good about Gillford's potential.

Luke Coughlin (6th round, 191st overall)

Position:D

DOB:April 11, 2005 (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island)

Height: 5'10''

Weight:172 lbs.

Shoots:Left

2022-23 Team:Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)

When looking at Coughlin, this excerpt from Elite Prospect's scouting report stands out.

"Had Luke Coughlin started his season at the same time as everyone else, his draft stock would've been much higher by season's end."

The fourth-overall pick in the 2019 QMJHL Draft, Coughlin was sidelined until December but still managed to notch a career-high 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 37 games with Rimouski.

Getting more comfortable as the season rolled along and his injury shifted farther and farther into his rearview mirror, the 18-year-old played his best hockey in the QMJHL playoffs. In nine contests, he paced Océanic's defensemen in scoring with seven points (one goal, six assists).

"Mobility and grit," Zito said.

As it often happens during the draft, the Panthers could be the latest beneficiary of scooping up a player that tumbled in the draft simply due to an injury. And if Coughlin can continue to build off his solid late-season showing, he should take a big step forward with Rimouski in 2023-24.

Great player to keep an eye on, for sure.

Stepan Zvyagin (7th round, 198th overall)

Position:F

DOB:April 16, 2004 (Moskva, Russia)

Height: 6'0''

Weight:154 lbs.

Shoots:Left

2022-23 Team:Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL), Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

The Panthers don't mind waiting on Zvyagin.

Locked into a contract overseas, the 19-year-old forward isn't expected to make his way to North America in the immediate future, but he'll still be able to develop from a distance.

Spending the majority of this past season lacing up his skates with Dinamo-Shinnik in Russia's MHL, Zvyagin registered 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists) in 37 games. Despite weighing in at just 154 pounds, he also got a good chance to size himself up against grown men in the KHL.

Playing for Minsk, he appeared in 15 games in the KHL, not including three in the playoffs in 2022-23.

On Oct. 31, he was named "Rookie of the Week" in the MHL.

"He's under contract for a couple years," Zito said. "That was one where maybe he fell because you won't have access to whim for a while. He's tremendously skilled. He's playing with men."

Zvyagin will be an intriguing prospect to keep tabs on over the next few seasons.