FORT LAUDERDALE — When the Florida Panthers lost players to injuries last season and plugged as many as 10 Charlotte callups into their NHL lineup, the replacements did not miss a beat. The man most responsible for that readiness is Geordie Kinnear, the AHL head coach who has run Florida’s minor-league affiliate since 2016 and just wrapped a streamlined development camp at the IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.

Kinnear’s résumé is built almost entirely in the minors — four NHL games on defense with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2000, 13 years as an AHL player and 22 seasons in coaching capacities at hockey’s top minor-league level. He has coached Florida’s AHL team first in Springfield, then in Charlotte, where he led the club to the Calder Cup Finals a year ago. That track record has made him the organization’s most critical link between draft picks and NHL contributors, Florida Hockey Now reported.

This year’s development camp was dramatically smaller than previous editions, with only 24 players in attendance. Kinnear said the reduced roster paid dividends. “When you have a small group, you can get to know people a lot better and get more of a relationship. So, I thought, honestly, it was a home run for not only the players but for the coaching staff,” Kinnear said.

The coach described the satisfaction of watching drafted players work through the system and reach the NHL. “I think the only way to truly develop a relationship is from the starting point,” he said. “For me, it’s a great joy that you get to see those guys over time.” Kinnear also emphasized the AHL’s role in preparing young professionals beyond the rink. “For me I believe it’s such a great league for people to come in — junior kids, college kids — their first year of pro experience because it’s a very difficult league,” Kinnear said. “Some stuff you learn is not always on the ice. It’s off the ice.”

Shea Busch, a 2025 fourth-round pick attending his second camp, offered a player’s perspective on Kinnear’s influence. “He’s a leader for sure. He helps the guys out a lot. Really vocal,” Busch said.

Florida GM Bill Zito made clear before camp ended that Kinnear’s work is central to the Panthers’ competitive model. “He took Charlotte to the finals a year ago. The team’s always competitive,” Zito said. “Every time a player comes up, they’re prepared. They’re seamless. You just plug them right in and they don’t make mistakes; they know where to go. Geordie and that whole staff down there deserve so much credit for the hard work and the dedication and the hockey excellence. We can’t give them enough credit.”

NHL free agency opened Wednesday, and the Panthers’ next on-ice milestone is the rookie camp and tournament scheduled for late August or early September at a site to be announced. Training camp opens in early-to-mid September in Fort Lauderdale, with the preseason beginning Sept. 20 against the Carolina Hurricanes.