The Panthers have already gotten incredible value out of their 2020 draft class.
In addition to nailing their first-round selection by scooping up Anton Lundell with the 13th overall pick, the Panthers bolstered their deepening pipeline with eight more picks. While many of those prospects remain in the system, others were used to help construct the team's new foundation.
To catch up on how the organization's 2022 draft class did this season, continue reading below.
2020 Draft Check-In: Panthers continue to enjoy fruits of deep 2020 class
Anton Lundell (1st round, 13th overall)
Position: C
2021-22 Team: Florida Panthers (NHL)
It's been a while since the Panthers have had a prospect burst onto the scene like Lundell.
Jumping right from Liiga to the NHL, the 20-year-old center registered 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) over 65 games while anchoring Florida's third line. Piling up points in bunches, his 12 multi-point games were tied with Jesse Belanger for the most by a rookie in franchise history.
However, possibly even more impressive than his offensive numbers, was the incredible poise that Lundell showed on the defensive side of the puck. Ranking first among Panthers forwards in average shorthanded ice time per game (2:22), he also led all NHL rookies in takeaways (59).
Earning national recognition for his outstanding campaign, Lundell finished sixth in voting for the Calder Trophy - an award he likely would've been a finalist for if he hadn't missed an extended period of time due to an unfortunate injury - and even took home one vote for the Selke Trophy.
Of the 11 players drafted ahead of Lundell, only four have produced more points thus far.
"When you look back, it was even more than I was expecting." Lundell said. "An unbelievable year. So much fun. We had a great atmosphere, such great things going. I think everybody on the team is going to remember this season for a long time. We did some incredible things."
Emil Heineman (2nd round, 43rd overall)
Position: LW
2021-22 Team: Leksands IF (SHL)
Just six months after the draft, this selection was a key piece in a major deadline deal.
On April 12, 2021, the Panthers traded Heineman and a 2022 second-round draft pick to the Flames in exchange for battle-tested forward Sam Bennett and a 2022 sixth-round draft pick.
Appearing in 81 games over parts of two seasons with the Panthers, Bennett has notched 64 points (34 goals, 30 assists) since the move, including lighting the lamp 28 times in 2021-22.
Ty Smilanic (3rd round, 74th overall)
Position: C
2021-22 Team: Quinnipiac University
Like Heineman, Smilanic was also involved in a move at the deadline.
On March 16, 2022, the playoff-bound Panthers acquired veteran defenseman Ben Chiarot from the Canadiens in exchange for a 2022 fourth-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick and Smilanic.
Taking the ice in 20 regular-season games after the trade, Chiarot recorded eight points (two goals, six assists), 47 hits and 39 blocked shots while averaging 20:56 of ice time per contest.
In the postseason, Chiarot blocked a team-high 19 shots.
Justin Sourdif (3rd round, 87th overall)
Position: C
2021-22 Team: Vancouver Giants / Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Sourdif garnered some major hardware this season.
Helping the Oil Kings capture the 2022 WHL Championship, the 20-year-old forward recorded a career-high 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) over 52 games during the regular season. Acquired from the Giants at the trade deadline, he tallied 17 goals and 22 assists after joining Edmonton.
In 19 postseason games, he racked up 14 points (five goals, nine assists).
"An amazing group of guys," Sourdif said after his championship run. "We've battled through adversity ever since I've been here. … These guys just stuck together. We're all like brothers."
Also suiting up for Canada at the abbreviated 2022 World Junior Championship earlier this year, Sourdif signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Panthers back on Sept. 24, 2021.
Michael Benning (4th round, 95th overall)
Position: D
2021-22 Team: University of Denver (NCAA)
Benning really broke out during his sophomore season.
Named the "Most Outstanding Player" in the Frozen Four, the 20-year-old scored the game-winning goal in the NCAA Championship Game to lift Denver to its record-tying ninth NCAA title.
"It was surreal," Benning said. "At that final buzzer, when I saw the guys chucking their gloves, it's hard to put that into words. It was awesome. I couldn't have done it with a better group of guys. When it just came down to it, we got the job the done. That's what we went there for."
Leading Denver's defensemen in goals (15) and points (38) in 2021-22, Benning, the son of former Panther Brian Benning (1993-95), has racked up 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists), 122 shots on goal and 49 blocked shots in 62 games over his first wo seasons with the Pioneers.
Benning is expected to return to Denver for his junior season in 2022-23.
Zachary Uens (4th round, 105th overall)
Position: D
2021-22 Team: Merrimack College (NCAA) / Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Uens is another player from this class that has already made the jump to the pros.
After registering 44 points (seven goals, 37 assists) over three seasons at Merrimack, the 21-year-old defenseman inked a three-year, entry-level contract with Florida on March 16, 2022.
Reporting right to the organization's AHL affiliate in Charlotte, Uens appeared in six games.
"Zachary is a dynamic, skilled defenseman who excels at moving the puck," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said after the signing. "He showcased his competitiveness during his three seasons at Merrimack and we're looking forward to his continued growth and development."
Finding success out of the gate, Uens helped the Checkers win four of the six games he played.
Kasper Puutio (5th round, 153rd overall)
Position: D
2021-22 Team: KalPa (Liiga)
Puutio really got to cut his teeth in the pro game overseas this season.
Suiting up in a career-high 51 games in Liiga, the 20-year-old blueliner registered 10 points (five goals, five assists) with KalPa. Spending the entire season in Liiga for the first time in his career, Puutio had previously appeared in just 29 games in Liiga when he played for Karpat in 2020-21.
On the international stage, Puutio represented Finland for the second straight season at the abbreviated World Junior Championship in 2022. In the 2021 installment of the annual best-on-best junior event, Puutio teamed up with Lundell to help Finland take home a bronze medal.
Puutio has one year left on the two-year deal he signed with KalPa in 2021.
Elliott Ekmark (7th round, 198th overall)
Position: C
2021-22 Team: Linköping HC (SHL)
Ekmark is continuing to adapt to the pro game in Sweden.
After suiting up in 31 games in the SHL in 2020-21, the 20-year-old forward took the ice in a career-high 44 contests with Linkoping HC this season, producing two goals and one assist.
Internationally, Ekmark played for Sweden at the abbreviated 2022 World Junior Championship. In two games at the tournament, he registered four shots on goal as Sweden went a perfect 2-0.
Not turning 21 until January, Ekmark has already competed in 75 career games in the SHL.
Devon Levi (7th round, 212th overall)
Position: G
2021-22 Team: Northeastern University
The Panthers parlayed a breakout performance from Levi at the 2021 World Junior Championship into one of their best trades since Zito took over as general manager.
On July 24, 2021, the Panthers dealt Levi, whose stock had quickly soared after he'd backstopped Canada to a silver medal at the World Juniors several months earlier, and a 2021 first-round pick to the Sabres in exchange for forward Sam Reinhart.
Looking back, the trade proved to be a home run.
Putting up more points than any other player ever in their first season with the Panthers, Reinhart, who signed a three-year extension shortly after the trade with the Sabres went down, posted career-highs in goals (33), assists (49) and points (82) during the 2021-22 campaign.
To read more about Rienhart's scoring skills, check out his "Season Rewind" by clicking
HERE
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