[Caged Great]

Panthers Prospect Report - New Players edition....

Forwards

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault - 20, AHL - 12 GP 5 G 6 A 11 PTS - Signed as a Free Agent

With seeing more shorter players in the NHL, having a few guys that are short but talented offensively seems like a decent idea, especially considering those that aren't vertically challenged are already on other teams. Anyone young that's near a PPG pace in the AHL can't be completely terrible.

Brian Gibbons - 23, AHL - 13 GP 3 G 7 A 10 PTS - Signed as a Free Agent

Gibbons like Cory Conacher were both among the league leaders in points in the NCAA last year and were rewarded with contracts with the pens and bolts respectively. Gibbons is currently leading the WB Penguins, and with the Pens not being terribly deep on the wing, he might get a shot at some point.

JT Brown - 20, NCAA - 11 GP 3 G 9 A 12 PTS - Acquired along with a 5th for a 3rd in trade with Minnesota

Brown has some legit skills, and is widely considered to be this year's Stefan Da Costa. PPG or better players in the NCAA usually develop into either elite AHL players or into decent NHLers. Getting a bunch of guys like that just increases the odds that you'll get a good one, and Brown seems like a fairly legit player. He seems like a similar player to Paul Byron from what I've seen of him thus far.

Defensemen

Brady Lamb - 22, NCAA - 11 GP 3 G 9 A 12 PTS - Signed as Free Agent

PPG forwards in the NCAA are more common than PPG D-men. Lamb plays a solid two way game and is pretty good in his own end. The native Calgarian would not be a bad player for the Flames to take a flier on after the season ends. He's a similar player to TJ Brodie, but not quite as offensively focused.

Dougie Hamilton - 19, OHL - 18 GP 9 G 18 A 27 PTS - Acquired in trade for Zbynek Michalek

1.5 PPG pace in the OHL as a D-man who's also good in his end. Not much to complain about there.

Duncan Siemens - 19, WHL - 19 GP 4 G 10 A 14 PTS - Acquired in trade for Stephane Robidas

A slightly more defensively oriented two way D-man, just like with Hamilton, there isn't much to complain about his game. Will definitely have a good pair of D-men for a long time.