Panthers Prospect Report: Mike Benning Making Noise, Arvid Drott Lighting the Lamp, and More from the Pipeline
As the 2025-26 season rolls on, the Florida Panthers' prospect pool continues to show why the organization has quietly built one of the deeper pipelines in the league. From the AHL to the NCAA and across Europe, young talent is stepping up - and in some cases, standing out in a big way.
Let’s dive into the latest on a few names making waves, starting with a defenseman who's been turning heads in Charlotte.
🔦 Spotlight: Mike Benning - Blueline Breakout
Mike Benning is starting to look like a player ready to take the next step.
The 23-year-old right-shot defenseman has been on a tear lately, recording points in five of his last six games with the Charlotte Checkers. Over that stretch, he’s posted six points (1G, 5A) and fired nine shots on goal - a sign that he’s not just moving the puck well, but also looking for his own opportunities.
On the season, Benning leads all Checkers defensemen in scoring with nine points (1G, 8A) through 17 games. That kind of production from the back end is exactly what NHL organizations hope to see from a fourth-round pick, and Benning’s development curve continues to trend in the right direction.
His strong November didn’t go unnoticed either - he was named the Independence Fund Defenseman of the Month, a well-earned nod that reflects both his offensive impact and his growing confidence on the ice.
Benning’s game has always been about puck movement and offensive instincts, and now he’s showing he can translate that to the pro level. If he keeps this up, he’s going to force some tough decisions in South Florida sooner rather than later.
🇸🇪 Overseas Impact: Arvid Drott Finding the Net in Sweden
Across the Atlantic, 18-year-old forward Arvid Drott is emerging as a serious scoring threat for Djurgårdens IF U20.
The Panthers’ sixth-round pick from this past summer (192nd overall) has already found the back of the net 10 times in just 16 games - the most on his team. Add in seven assists, and his 17 points rank third overall in team scoring.
For a player adjusting to a bigger role and more responsibility, Drott is showing a scorer’s touch that’s hard to teach. He’s proving he can finish, and that kind of offensive upside makes him an intriguing long-term piece for the Panthers.
📊 By the Numbers: Panthers Prospect Stats Breakdown
Here’s a look at how the rest of the Panthers’ prospects are performing across various leagues. From Charlotte to college rinks and European ice, here’s who’s producing, developing, and worth keeping an eye on.
AHL / ECHL - Charlotte Checkers & Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Jack Devine (F, 22) - 13 GP, 6G, 6A, 12 Pts One of the more consistent forwards for Charlotte, Devine’s playmaking and finishing are both clicking early.
- Wilmer Skoog (F, 26) - 17 GP, 7G, 5A, 12 Pts *Veteran presence with a nose for the net.
Skoog is giving Charlotte solid top-six production. *
- Ben Steeves (F, 23) - 17 GP, 6G, 5A, 11 Pts A balanced scoring threat, Steeves is finding ways to contribute every night.
- Sandis Vilmanis (F, 21) - 17 GP, 4G, 7A, 11 Pts Vilmanis has quietly become a reliable offensive option with a strong two-way game.
- Gracyn Sawchyn (F, 20) - 15 GP, 3G, 6A, 9 Pts Young, skilled, and creative - Sawchyn is adjusting well to the pro pace.
- Josh Davies (F, 21) - 12 GP, 4G, 3A, 7 Pts Strong start in the ECHL, showing flashes of high-end speed and finishing.
- Marek Alscher (D, 21) - 13 GP, 2G, 3A, 5 Pts Steady on the blue line, Alscher is making strides in his second pro season.
- Evan Nause (D, 22) - 15 GP, 1G, 4A, 5 Pts Defensively sound with some offensive upside - a name to watch in Savannah.
- Ryan McAllister (F, 23) - 7 GP, 1G, 3A, 4 Pts Small sample size, but McAllister’s vision and passing ability stand out.
- Kai Schwindt (F, 21) - 6 GP, 1G, 2A, 3 Pts Still carving out a role, but showing flashes of physicality and energy.
- Ludvig Jansson (D, 21) - 9 GP, 1G, 2A, 3 Pts Mobile defender with offensive instincts - just needs more reps.
- Mikulas Hovorka (D, 24) - 10 GP, 0G, 3A, 3 Pts Providing depth minutes and steady play on the back end.
- Cooper Black (G, 24) - 12 GP, .902 SV%, 2.62 GAA Holding his own in net, giving Charlotte solid starts.
- Kirill Gerasimyuk (G, 22) - 5 GP, .895 SV%, 2.44 GAA Numbers don’t tell the whole story - Gerasimyuk has shown poise in limited action.
CHL - Canadian Juniors
- Shea Busch (F, 18) - 12 GP, 13G, 5A, 18 Pts *Flat-out scoring.
Busch is off to a red-hot start in Everett and looking like a steal. *
- Shamar Moses (F, 18) - 21 GP, 4G, 7A, 11 Pts Developing nicely in North Bay, showing a well-rounded game.
NCAA - College Hockey
- Vladislav Lukashevich (D, 22) - 14 GP, 2G, 12A, 14 Pts One of the top-producing defensemen in the Panthers’ system right now.
- Brendan Dunphy (D, 19) - 14 GP, 1G, 3A, 4 Pts Solid freshman campaign, adjusting well to the college game.
- Tyler Muszelik (G, 21) - 13 GP, .926 SV%, 2.27 GAA *Those are NHL-caliber numbers.
Muszelik is making a real case as a future pro starter. *
- Luke Coughlin (D, 20) - 7 GP, 0G, 0A Still early, but Coughlin will look to find his footing as the season progresses.
Europe - Prospects Abroad
- Stepan Zvyagin (F, 21) - 29 GP, 7G, 18A, 25 Pts Leading the way in Belarus with impressive playmaking and vision.
- Stepan Gorbunov (F, 19) - 12 GP, 5G, 6A, 11 Pts One of the more intriguing offensive talents in the European group.
- Denis Gabdrakhmanov (G, 20) - 15 GP, .916 SV%, 2.22 GAA Reliable between the pipes - trending in the right direction.
- Olof Glifford (G, 20) - 13 GP, .917 SV%, 2.13 GAA Another strong goaltending prospect putting up big numbers in Sweden.
- Yegor Midlak (G, 18) - 5 GP, .921 SV%, 2.95 GAA Young but promising - Midlak’s upside is worth keeping tabs on.
- Albert Wikman (D, 20) - 19 GP, 1G Still raw, but gaining valuable experience in the SHL.
- Simon Zether (F, 20) - 20 GP, 1G, 3A Playing a depth role, but showing flashes of skill in Rögle’s system.
- Matvei Shuravin (D, 19) - 12 GP, 2G Big-bodied defender with some offensive bite.
📍 What It All Means
The Panthers have quietly built a deep and diverse group of prospects. From Benning’s offensive breakout in Charlotte to Drott’s goal-scoring in Sweden, there are players at every level pushing for more. And while not everyone will make the leap, the volume