FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers capped their 2026 development camp with a 3-on-3 scrimmage at Baptist Health IcePlex on Thursday, giving fans and coaches a final look at the organization’s newest prospects — including three players drafted just days earlier in Buffalo.
Team White defeated Team Red 4-1 across two 10-minute halves, with Vilho Vanhatalo scoring twice and Simas Ignatavicius and Shamar Moses each adding a goal. Vladislav Lukashevich netted the lone tally for Team Red. Players also participated in a shootout after each half.
“As a coach, you have a vision coming in of how you want things to operate, and I thought it was outstanding,” said Charlotte Checkers head coach Geordie Kinnear, who ran the on-ice instruction at camp. “All the little points we wanted to get across about the Florida Panthers and what we’re about was established. … It was a home run not only for the players, but for the coaching staff.”
Three of the camp participants were selected by the Panthers at last weekend’s draft in Buffalo: Ignatavicius in the 2nd round, Vanhatalo in the 6th round and goaltender Louis-Antoine Denault in the 7th round. Vanhatalo’s two-goal performance in the scrimmage offered an early return on that investment.
Tyler Muszelik and Denis Gabdrakhmanov split goaltending duties for Team White, while Ben Hrebik and Denault manned the crease for Team Red.
The Panthers’ development pipeline now shifts to Charlotte, where Kinnear’s Checkers will open their AHL season this fall.