FORT LAUDERDALE - Picking up where he left off.

Returning to the ice after suffering an injury at the 2025 Rookie Showcase earlier this month, Florida Panthers forward prospect Sandis Vilmanis felt like he didn’t miss a beat.

“Looking at the other camp (last year), good camp, so I should prove myself in this one also and do even better than last time,” Vilmanis after the team’s morning skate on Monday. “I’m really excited for tonight’s game and hopefully it’s going to go well.”

It did.

Collecting five points (3G, 2A) in five preseason games last year, the 21-year-old scored in his preseason debut on Monday to help lead the Panthers to a 4-3 overtime win against the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena.

“I had an injury, but I still made the comeback to the main camp and I had th

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