Nine different prospects score as Panthers end D-Camp with scrimmage

CORALS SPRINGS, Fla. -The Florida Panthers closed the book on their annual development camp with an exciting scrimmage in front of packed house at the Panthers IceDen on Friday.

With nearly 40 prospects participating in the game, the action was split into two 20-minute halves. The first half featured 15 minutes of 4-on-4 followed by five minutes of 3-on-3. The second half consisted of 15 minutes of 5-on-5 before another five minutes of 3-on-3 play.

Team Red ended up besting Team White by a score of 6-3.

Wilmer Skoog, Gracyn Sawchyn, Sandis Vilmanis, Liam Arnsby, Jake Wise and Mackie Samoskevich all found the back of the net during the win for Team Red, while on the other side of the ice Kai Schwindt, Jack Devine and Owen Lindmark lit the lamp for Team White.

"It was definitely quick for a July skate," said Samoskevich, who the Panthers selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. "I loved it. It's good to have guys competing out there. It's helping everyone's game, for sure. I had a blast. … There's so many great people here -- the staff, the players. … The whole week was so much fun. To end it like that with a win was fun."

Olof Glifford and Charlie Robertson shared the net for Team Red, with Glifford, a fifth-round pick (159th overall) by the Panthers at last month's draft in Nashville, earning a shutout in the first half. Manning the crease for Team White, Tyler Muszelik and Cooper Black each played a half.

Following the scrimmage, both teams participated in a shootout.

Much to the delight of fans, several players pulled off some highlight-reel moves.

"I thought it was fun out there," said Devine, who participated in his second camp after being drafted in the seventh round (221st overall) in 2022. "Unfortunately we didn't get the win, but I think for a lot of guys it was a great chance for them to showcase their talent."

In addition to the on-ice action, prospects partook in numerous off-ice activities this week.

They learned how to make sushi at Takato in Fort Lauderdale, got to rock out with Blink-182 at FLA Live Arena, did some community service and even played some dodgeball. Additionally, with the prospects staying on the beach, everyone had a chance to dip their toes into the ocean.

"The camp's not about really the on-ice or the scrimmage or anything like that," Panthers Director of Player Personnel Bryan McCabe. "It's a learning process for these kids and just trying to help them adapt to being a pro. We throw a lot of information at them -- different speakers, seminars, little things on the ice and details they can take home for the summer to improve."

As for the scrimmage, McCabe liked what he saw.

"It was great just to get the guys out," he said. "I thought the guys played hard."

With another D-Camp in the books, prospects are already counting down the days until their next trip to South Florida.