Florida Panthers 2026 TUFHL Draft Class

Panthers Reload - Building the Future, the Future is Gold
7/10/2026 • Justin Stocks

As the dust settles from the 2026 TUFHL Entry Draft, one thing is certain, the Florida Panthers are building the future.  That was the theme once new GM Justin Stocks took over.  And taking stock of the future is just what he did.  Wheeling and dealing before and during the draft, the Panthers acquired 29 total picks in this draft.

Here are the draft trends Florida seemed to follow this year:

  • Heavy on D and G
    • 10 Defensemen
    • 5 Goalies
    • 14 Forwards
  • The Euro Pipeline
    • 10 picks from Liiga/SHL/MHL/U20 Euro Leagues
  • NCAA Focus
    • 6 College players were drafted for long-term development
  • Saginaw Connection
    • 3 picks from the Spirit, showing confidence in their development program

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#9 — W — Nikita Klepov — Saginaw Spirit (OHL)*: Skilled Russian winger playing North American hockey. Strong shot release and offensive instincts. Top-10 talent with upside as a middle-six scoring winger.
 
#18 — F — J.P. Hurlbert — Kamloops Blazers (WHL)*: North-south power forward out of the WHL. Heavy forechecker, plays a pro-style game. Projects as a physical bottom-six forward who can chip in offense.
 
#25 — D — Tommy Bleyl — Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)*: Mobile right-shot D from the Q. Good transition game and puck mover. Late-1st value with top-4 potential if his defensive game rounds out.
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#40 — RW — Jonas Lagerberg Hoen — Leksands IF (SHL)*: Playing pro minutes in Sweden’s top league already. Smart, reliable two-way winger. High floor, likely bottom-six NHL projection.
 
#46 — D — Juho Piiparinen — Tappara (Liiga)*: Left-shot Finn from a top Liiga program. Smooth skater, calm under pressure. Projects as a puck-moving 3rd-pair D.

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#88 — F — Egor Barabanov — Saginaw Spirit (OHL)*: Second Saginaw pick. High-skill Russian forward with slick hands. Boom-bust upside — if he hits, could be a steal as a scoring winger.

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#98 — LW — Felix Trudeau — Sacred Heart (NCAA)*: NCAA freshman winger. Power-forward frame, net-front presence. Long-term college development path, projects as energy/grinder.
 
#108 — F — Oiva Keskinen — Tappara (Liiga)*: Another Tappara product. Cerebral centerman, great hockey sense. Liiga experience vs men already. Two-way middle-six upside.
 
#113 — D — Jonas Woo — Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)*: WHL D with good size. Defensive-minded, blocks shots, PK guy. Projects as a shutdown 3rd-pair defenseman.
 
#116 — G — Michal Postava — Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)*: Rare goalie already playing AHL games. Athletic, technically sound. Fastest path to pros of their goalies.
 
#119 — G — Gleb Peshkov — Taifun Primorsky - Kari (MHL)*: Russian MHL netminder. Big frame, tracks pucks well. Longer development timeline but good raw tools.

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#130 — LW — Noel Pakarinen — Kiekko-Espoo (Liiga)*: Pro minutes in Liiga. Heavy winger, wins battles, plays hard. Bottom-six checker projection.
 
#133 — D — Ola Palme — Vaxjo Lakers HC (SHL)*: SHL defenseman, rare for this round. Reliable, low-event game. Safe pick with pro floor as a depth D.
 
#136 — F — Bennett Schimek — Arizona State (NCAA)*: NCAA forward out of a rising program. High motor, penalty killer. Energy-line projection.
 
#138 — D — Mikhail Cherepanov — New Hampshire Mountain Kings (NAHL)*: NAHL overager. Big body, mean streak. Project defender, college likely next step.
 
#143 — F — Jasper Kuhta — Ottawa 67’s (OHL)*: OHL depth forward. Speed and tenacity. Late-round flyer with bottom-six upside.
 
#158 — D — Brayden Klimpke — Saskatoon Blades (WHL)*: WHL D from a strong program. Two-way tools, good puck skills. Sleeper potential as a 5/6 D.

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#162 — G — Joshua Kotai — Augustana (NCAA)*: NCAA goalie, newer D1 program. Athletic, battles. Long development but good NCAA goalie track record.
 
#168 — D — Ben Dexheimer — Wisconsin (NCAA)*: Big Ten defenseman. Good reach, steady. College senior-type who could sign and play AHL right away.
 
#170 — D — Teddy Lechner — Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)*: USHL D, prime college feeder league. Skates well, offensive instincts. College commit likely.
 
#175 — F — Hank Cleaves — Dartmouth (NCAA)*: Ivy League forward. Smart, responsible. High-character depth forward, leadership type.
 
#184 — D — Eric Frossard — Guelph Storm (OHL)*: OHL depth D. Physical, clears the crease. Enforcer/7th D profile.
 
#191 — D — Brian McFadden — Thayer Academy (USHS-Prep)*: Prep school D. Raw but big frame. College path, long-term project.

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#194 — F — Luka Arkko — Pelicans U20 (U20 SM-sarja)*: Finnish junior forward. Skilled, needs strength. European development path.
 
#195 — F — Anttoni Uronen — HIFK (Liiga)*: Another Liiga product. Speedy winger, tenacious. Good 7th-round Euro swing.
 
#200 — D — Samuel Eriksson — Farjestad BK U20 (U20 Nationell)*: Swedish junior D from a top program. Good hockey sense. Worth the late flyer.
 
#212 — G — Stepan Shurygin — Saginaw Spirit (OHL)*: Third Saginaw guy. Russian goalie adapting to NA ice. Big upside if he adjusts.
 
#216 — G — Louis-Antoine Denault — Newfoundland Regiment (QMJHL)*: QMJHL netminder. Technically refined, battler. Q goalies have good NHL track record.
 
#220 — G — Alexandre Raymond — Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)*: Second Q goalie. Athletic, aggressive. Late-round goalie lottery ticket.

#222 — W — Artyom Prima — Omaha Lancers (USHL)*: Russian winger in USHL. Pure skill pick. Boom-bust swing at #222 — no risk, high reward.

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