OHL In The System: Florida Panthers
The final instalment of OHL In The System takes a closer look at the 2024 Stanley Cup champion, Florida Panthers.
This 32-part series spotlights OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
Join us for OHL In The System!
Sandis Vilmanis (LW) – Sarnia Sting (2022-24), North Bay Battalion (2023-24)
Signed: March 2, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 122 Games Played | 58 Goals | 54 Assists | 112 Points
Age: 20
Selected by the Florida Panthers in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Sandis Vilmanis put pen to paper on March 2, 2024. Selected by the Sarnia Sting in the 2022 CHL Import Draft, The 6-foot-1, 192lb. native of Riga, Latvia, amassed 112 points over 122 career OHL games between the North Bay Battalion and Sarnia over the last two seasons. He tallied 34 points in 30 playoff contests, helping the Sting reach the Western Conference Finals in 2023, and the Battalion reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024. On the international stage, Vilmanis has represented Latvia at multiple tournaments, most recently at the 2024 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship where he served as alternate captain. He represented Latvia at the U20 WJC in each of the last three seasons and at the IIHF U18 WJC in 2021 and 2022.
Andre Anania (D) – Sudbury Wolves (2021-24)
Signed (AHL): May 24, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 180 Games Played | 21 Goals | 66 Assists | 87 Points
Age: 21
Chosen by the Sudbury Wolves in the fourth round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Andre Anania played three seasons in the League, recording 87 points in 180 regular season games played. The blueliner from Richmond Hill, Ont. added two points in 13 playoff contests with the Wolves. Registering 41 points in 60 games played during the 2023-24 season. The 21-year-old led all Wolves blue liners in goals throughout the 2023-24 season and ranked second in points. His plus-49 rating set a new Wolves single season record. Anania signed a one-year contract with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers on May 24, 2024.
Kai Schwindt (LW) – Mississauga Steelheads (2021-23), Sarnia Sting (2023-24)
Signed: September 30, 2022
OHL Career Stats: 168 Games Played | 37 Goals | 28 Assists | 65 Points
Age: 20
Kai Schwindt signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers as a free-agent on September 30, 2022. The 20-year-old forward has appeared in one AHL game with the Charlotte Checkers, and six with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. Signed as a free-agent by the Mississauga Steelheads in 2021, the Kitchener, Ont. native played three seasons in the OHL between the Steelheads and the Sarnia Sting, totaling 65 points in 168 regular season contests. He added four points in 15 post-season matchups.
Nathan Staios (D) – Windsor Spitfires (2017-19), Hamilton Bulldogs (2019-22)
Signed: July 14, 2022
OHL Career Stats: 237 Games Played | 33 Goals | 115 Assists | 148 Points
Age: 23
The Florida Panthers signed Nathan Staios to a three-year entry-level contract as a free-agent on July 14, 2022. The 23-year-old defenceman has spent the past two seasons between the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and Newfoundland Growlers, tallying 46 points in 99 games played. He won a Kelly Cup with the Everblades in 2023 and was selected to the 2023-24 ECHL All-Star Game. Selected 17th overall by the Windsor Spitfires at the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, the Oakville, Ont. native played four seasons in the OHL between Windsor and the Hamilton Bulldogs, recording 148 points in 237 regular season games played. Staios hoisted the J. Ross Robertson Cup as an OHL champion with the Bulldogs during the 2021-22 season, registering nine points in 13 playoff contests. He was named to the OHL’s First All-Star Team and crowned OHL and CHL Defenceman of the Year after totaling 66 points in 59 regular season games played.
Liam Arnsby (C) – North Bay Battalion (2019-24)
Selected: 214th overall, 2022 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 215 Games Played | 36 Goals | 74 Assists | 110 Points
Age: 20
Chosen ninth overall by North Bay at the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Liam Arnsby played four seasons with the Battalion, registering 110 points in 215 regular season contests. The former captain helped North Bay reach three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals as Central Division champions, tallying 20 points in 43 playoff contests. A 20-year-old forward from Ajax, Ont. Arnsby was selected by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
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