Florida Panthers: Top Prospects 30-26

Before I start, my criteria was my prospect list and anybody who was listed as a rookie on my team.

30. Robbie Czarnik, C, 20, Washington, Michigan

6’0, 178lbs

Drafted 3^rd round in 2008

First on the list, is one of Dylan’s picks from his first draft in 2008, in Robbie Czarnik. The 6’0 centre has had a bumpy path since the draft. He spent a year and a half at the University of Michigan where he really didn’t impress the management too much and fell out of their plans. But last season he joined the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL and started to put up some impressive stats, which has continued into this year with 25 points in 18 games.

 “We’re pretty content on the way things are going so far.  He’s a long shot for our team but he is still a very good two way player who does have some offensive instincts. He has to challenge a lot of guys in our organization but we can see him being a bottom line guy for us in 2-3 years and really that’s where we had him at when we picked him. We hope he continues to progress in the O the rest of the year and hopefully spend the next two years in the AHL rounding out his game.”

29. Julian Melchiori , D, 19, Richmond Hill, Ontario

6’4, 209lbs

Acquired in trade with Dallas

 Melchiori was the under the radar piece acquired in the big Luke Schenn deal earlier this month. After playing the past two years in the OJHL for Newmarket, it was expected he would go to UMass-Lowell but in the end went to the OHL to play for the Kitchener Rangers. While playing for one of the top teams in the OHL, he has been impressive so far but with only 1 goal in 24 games, it seems there is not much of an offensive game to him. 

“We have plenty of top end depth at D, and really this guy is a huge project. He’s physical and a big guy who can shut you down. Though he still needs to mature and really is playing in his first year at a really highly competitive league and really has fit in well, we’re going to take it slow with him. Really we have no need to rush him, and we expect him to spend the rest of this year and next in the OHL and after that maybe 2-3 years in the AHL. He’s a while away but there definitely is potential in him and we are happy to have him.”

28. Jimmy Bubnick, RW, 19, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

6’2, 197lbs

Drafted 4^th round (113^th overall) in 2009

 Jimmy Bubnick was a project pick of the team back in ’09, and his progression is exactly how the Panther’s thought it would be. After an ok season last year in the WHL, in which he was dealt from Kamloops to Calgary he really tore it up in the playoffs with 14 points in 23 games. But it was at the Memorial Cup where he really shone, with 8 points in 4 games, earning him a place on the Memorial Cup All-star team.

“Bubnick is a big physical guy that we are really going to need at the pro level in a few years. He’s big and strong on the boards and can play all 3 forward positions which give him a lot of versatility. Though he’s not as flashy as others he can get points and we really see him as a prototypical 3^rd liner for us in the future. We think that this is his last year of junior and hope to see him in the AHL next season.”

27. AJ Jenks, LW, 20, Wolverine Lake, Michigan

6’2, 200lbs

Drafted 4^th round in 2008

 After an impressive final season in the O, winning a gold medal at the WJC and having even better playoffs, it was quite a disappointment for Jenks to start his pro career. He was left off the training camp roster with a heart problem (similar to that of Jonas Gustavsson’s) and missed the first month of the season. But he has quickly made up for lost time. In 8 games with Rochester, he has 3 points including 2 goals. But he has been impressive off the puck and has worked really hard to get back up to speed after missing two months of hockey.

“We really like Jenks; he’s another big guy who can score. He is more suited for a 3^rd line power forward type player, but he has shown the ability to score before and could become a top two line guy. He is great defensively and can be a guy that will be put out there for key defensive situations and on the PK. We think he’s much closer than the guys previous on this list but he still needs to develop but he is a really good guy that we are really looking forward to seeing in the pros.”

26. Kevin Poulin, G, 20, Montreal, Quebec

6’2, 200lbs

Acquired in trade with Buffalo

 Even after getting traded to Florida this month, it seemed suited as he was drafted by the Panthers in 2008. The big goalie was one of the prospects moved in the giant 21 player trade to Buffalo last year, and Dylan has spent the last few months trying to get him back. While he didn’t have an impressive draft year, the potential was there and the Panther’s took a flyer on him at the draft. Since then, he progressed the next two years and put up great stats last year in his final year in the QMJHL.  This year he has began his pro career in Bridgeport and hasn’t slowed down at all, in 9 games he is 6-3 with 2 shutouts and a staggering 1.98 GAA and .939 SV%.

“Even though we had plenty of depth in net, we really wanted to bring Poulin back on. He is quick in the net and shows great athleticism and always works hard to make the stop. He is working to become more technical in net and with his size and athleticism we think we have a really good goalie for our future here and just add a really good presence to our depth.