Florida Panthers’ second-round draft history hasn’t been spectacular

Barring any trades, the Florida Panthers’ top pick in this week’s NHL Draft will come from the second round.

It certainly isn’t as exciting as getting a crack at the first round, plus the Panthers’ recent history in the second round hasn’t been a gold mine. Only four of their last 10 second-rounders have played a game for the Panthers, and of those four, Ian McCoshen has played the most games with the Panthers (60).

But, that doesn’t mean that foundational players can’t be found. Brandon Montour, for example, was taken in the second round by the Anaheim Ducks in 2014. Several other standout Panthers weren’t first-round picks.

History shows, though, that the second round hasn’t been easy pickings. It will be unfair to label whoever the Panthers select Thursday based on those who have come before him — especially with GM Bill Zito hired just three years ago — but it’s worth noting how other second-round picks have fared.

Here’s a look at the Panthers’ last 10 second-round picks in reverse chronological order:

2021: Evan Nause, Defenseman

Nause signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Panthers, but was returned back to junior hockey with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. The defenseman recorded five goals and 24 assists in 40 games while battling an injury that cost him six weeks. Nause was able to return though, and led the Remparts to win both the QMJHL championship and the Memorial Cup. The 20-year old was a participant in Panthers development camp and training camp last year and will likely be in the organization this season.

2020: Emil Heineman, Left Wing

Heineman was traded to Calgary six months after he was drafted as part of a deal that brought Sam Bennett to Florida. The Swede was then traded again a year later to Montreal as part of a trade that sent Tyler Toffoli to the Flames. He signed his entry-level deal with the Canadiens in April 2022 and made his AHL debut last March for the Laval Rocket.

2019: Vladislov Kolyachonok, Defenseman

Kolyachonok played 11 AHL games for the Syracuse Crunch in 2020-21, but was traded to Arizona along with Anton Stralman. Kolyachonok made his NHL debut the next season and split time between the NHL and AHL. Last season, he spent the majority of the season in the AHL except for two games with Arizona. In 34 games with the Coyotes, Kolyachonok has notched one goal and two assists.

2018: Serron Noel, Right Wing

Noel signed his entry-level deal in 2019, but has spent his time in the Panthers’ minor league system. However, last season he only played in seven games — all for the Florida Everblades. He had a career year in 2021-22 with the Charlotte Checkers, scoring five goals and 15 assists in 64 games.

2017: Aleksi Heponiemi, Left Wing/Center

Heponiemi has been an impactful player in Charlotte, producing 82 points over the last two seasons. He’s also played in 25 games for the Panthers in the last three seasons. Heponiemi is a restricted free agent this summer.

2016: Adam Mascherin, Left Wing/Center

Mascherin didn’t sign with the Panthers after they used the No. 38 pick on him in 2016. He re-entered the draft two years later and was selected in the fourth round by the Dallas Stars. Mascherin played three seasons in the AHL with the Texas Stars, and has since spent the last two years playing in Sweden.

2014: Jayce Hawryluk, Right Wing/Center

Hawryluk played two seasons with the Panthers before being claimed on waivers by Ottawa in February 2020. He played the rest of the season with the Senators, signed in the offseason with Vancouver and appeared in 30 games for the Canucks in 2020-21. Hawryluk hasn’t been in the NHL since, spending the 2021-22 season in Sweden, then returned to sign a minor league deal with Ottawa before being traded in a minor league deal to the New Jersey Devils in March.

2013: Ian McCoshen, Defenseman

McCoshen was taken with the first pick of the second round, but played in just 60 NHL games, all for the Panthers. The former Boston College star made his NHL debut in 2016-17, and was a swing player for the Panthers. McCoshen was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019, then spent two more seasons in the AHL with the Iowa Wild and Henderson Silver Knights. He is now playing in Finland.

2011: Rocco Grimaldi, Right Wing

Grimaldi was a young star with the United States National Team Development Program, but played in only 27 games for the Panthers. He was traded to Colorado in 2016 in exchange for goaltender Reto Berra, but spent most of his time in the AHL until he was signed as a free agent in 2018 by the Nashville Predators. Grimaldi established himself as a full-time NHL player for two seasons in Nashville, but wasn’t re-signed last summer. He impressed the Anaheim Ducks in a professional tryout, signed a one-year AHL deal, but was traded to the Rockford IceHogs in March.

2011: Rasmus Bengtsson, Defenseman

Bengtsson was at one point the highest-drafted player in the United States Hockey League. He was taken with the No. 59 pick, but never signed with the Panthers. After the 2012-13 season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Bengtsson returned home to Sweden, where he’s played ever since. Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov was selected one spot ahead of Bengtsson.