Panthers sign Gracyn Sawchyn to three-year, entry-level contract

On Monday, Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito announced the team has signed forward Gracyn Sawchyn to a three-year, entry-level contract. The cap hit of the deal has yet to be announced.

The Panthers selected Sawchyn in the second round, 63rd overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft. It came after a great rookie season in the Western Hockey League for the Grande Prairie, Alberta native. With the Seattle Thunderbirds, Sawchyn scored 18 goals and 58 points in 58 games, including another 11 in 17 playoff games as the T-Birds went on to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup, punching the team’s ticket to the Memorial Cup for the fourth time in franchise history. Seattle would ultimately lose to the Quebec Remparts in the championship game.

“Gracyn is a talented skater with strong stick-handling skills and a high compete level,” Zito said in a release. “We are excited to watch him continue to develop within our system.”

Many like Sawchyn’s game because he is a hard-working asset down the middle with an obvious scoring touch. He has never had a negative plus/minus at the end of any regular season in his time playing major junior. The Shattuck St. Mary’s product has a tendency to quickly turn defense into offense, making him a future two-way asset in the pro ranks.

The 19-year-old is currently with the Edmonton Oil Kings, the team Sawchyn was traded to last season. As an alternate captain, he has had a great start to the 2024-25 campaign, notching eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 12 games, leading his team in scoring. Sawchyn is on a path to scoring 100 points for the first time in his junior career.

In 124 WHL appearances, Sawchyn has registered 45 goals and 97 assists for 142 points.