Panthers score with draft pick
Right winger Owen Tippett knows how to shoot.
Although Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said he’d select the best player available regardless of position, he decided to wing it after all.
Twodays after losing two of his top-three right wings to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, the Panthers picked Mississauga Steelheads right wing Owen Tippett with their 10th pick in the NHL draft Friday night in theUnited Center.
Tallon received a huge ovation from the Chicago Blackhawks fans for helping build that franchise into a three-time StanleyCup champion when he was their general manager.
“Right back at you,” Tallon said. “I’d like to wish Bill Torrey a happy birthday, 83 years old and his 50th draft. And I’d like to say hello to our fans at Bokamper’s [Panthers’ watch party in Plantation]. The Florida Panthers are proud to select from the Mississauga Steelheads, Owen Tippett.”
The 6-foot-2, 188-pound Tippett, 18, tore up the Ontario Hockey League last season with 44 goals and 75 points along with a plus-24 ice rating in 60 games. He added 19 points in 20 playoff games.
Tippett, a first cousin of Lightning prospect Mitchell Stephens, said he had never been to Florida, and is anxious to attend nextweek’s development camp.
“It’s really a dream come true since Iwas a little kid,” he said. “There are really no words to describe it.”
Tippett said he needs to improve his awareness in the defensive zone, but expressed confidence in his shot and skating speed.
A mock draft by NHL.com described Tippett, an Ontario native, as “the best shooter and one of the best skaters of this draft class.”
His style of play was compared to Penguins’ sniper Phil Kessel.
“He is a dynamic and highly talented winger who was among the top goal scorers in the OHL this season,” Tallon said. “Owen is an excellent skater with an NHL-caliber shot. He will be an exciting addition to our young core for years to come.”
Recently hired Panthers coach Bob Boughner, who owned and is still the president of the Windsor Spitfers of the OHL, certainly has to be familiar with of Tippett, whowas ranked seventh among North American skaters by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau, but the top right wing.
TSN joked that Tippett is “not just a shoot-first winger, he’s a shoot it all [the time] winger; he’s [a] shot-generating machine … the best goal scorer in this draft.”
The International Scouting Services said that Tippett “has good size and strength, difficult to defend against. He has an awesomes hot, quick release and accuracy. Very good one-timer which he needs to be more accurate.
He’s a very good skater with a powerful stride and speed. Has a second gear to get away from a check. Not many weaknesses to this player.”
Heading into the draft, Tallon said he’d take the best player available at No. 10, and then on Saturday, the final day of the draft, fill positional needs with his remaining four picks (40, 66,133,184).
However, he clearly went for need, after losing top-six right wings Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault to the Knights on Wednesday.
“The trend is definitely toward speed on every team and I’ll tell you we’re no different,” Panthers director of amateur scouting Jason Bukala told the Sun Sentinel earlier thisweek.
“The game has gotten exceptionally quick. The elimination of the red line a few years ago opened up more space and opened up more pace through the neutral zone, so the best teams are playing fast.
“We’re looking for speed for sure, but flat out the best player could be 6-foot-3, 5-8 or 5-10. It doesn’t matter. We’ll look for the best player in the draft at [No. 10] and we’ll manage the asset after that.”
Most pundits agreed that after the top three, including centers Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick— who as expected went to the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers respectively — thefirst round was wide open.
“We’re not afraid to play young players,” Tallon said. “The quicker they get into the battle the more experience they get, the better they’ll be long term.”
In recent drafts, defenseman Aaron Ekblad (No. 1 in 2014) and center Aleksander Barkov (2nd in 2013) both made the jump right into the NHL, while Tallon gave (now Vancouver) defenseman Erik Gudbranson (No. 3 in 2010) an extra year in juniors.
He also didn’t promote defensemen Mike Matheson, Ian McCoshen (31st in 2013) and Alex Petrovic (36th in 2010) until several years after their respective draft classes.
“You hear a bunch of different things, but just go to camp and work your heart out,” Tippett said. “I’m really excited. I’ve seen the Panthers the last couple of years and the young talent they have. I’m excited to get to Florida to take it all in.”
Panthers hire Capuano
Tallon began filling out Boughner’s coaching staff by bringing in former New York Islanders coach Jack Capuano as associate coach Friday.
“[Capuano’s] a knowledgeable and experienced voice to have behind our bench that will work well with our young players,” Tallon said.
Ironically, it was Capuano’s Islanders who knocked the Panthers out of the playoffs in six tight games in 2016 that ignited several offseason changes on and off the ice that eventually led to Gallant’s dismissal on Nov. 27.
In six-plus seasons (2010-17) at the helm of the Islanders, Capuano compiled a 227-192-64 record, and guided them to the playoffs in 2013, ’15 and ’16.
“I’m extremely excited to join the Florida Panthers organization,” Capuano said. “I want to thank Vinnie Viola and Doug Cifu for putting their trust in me, and Dale for giving me and opportunity to work with Bob, one of the great young minds in the game. My familiarity with the Panthers has grown throughout the past few years and I’m eager towork with such a young, talented group of players.”