Panthers giving Lawson Crouse 9-game audition

Photo Credit – Florida Panthers Website

The Florida Panthers will be giving their 2015 1st round selection, Lawson Crouse a taste of NHL hockey this season.

The 18-year-old, was drafted 11th overall by the Panthers and has high potential to be a top six forward in the league. Dale Tallon has indicated that Crouse is expected to make the opening night roster. The Panthers have not guaranteed Crouse a full time roster spot, but have stated that he will be given a nine-game audition.

Many 1st round prospects from June’s NHL Entry Draft won’t be receiving the same chance Crouse is getting from Florida. A few of these include Maples Leafs prospect Mitch Marner (Knights - OHL), Sharks prospect Timo Meier (Mooseheads – QMJHL), and the Flyers have sent both Ivan Provorov (Wheat Kings – WHL) and Travis Konecny (67’S – OHL) back to their junior clubs.

All teams are given the chance to give their first-year players, a 9-game trial at the NHL level. The player can play 9-games without it burning a year off their entry-level contracts. However if the players does play his 10th game, then the year will count as his first NHL term of his entry-level contract.

Currently Crouse is at the Panthers training camp and has played in three preseason games. He has recorded 1 assist in those three games. If GM Tallon doesn’t feel Crouse is NHL ready then he will send him back to the junior team.

Crouse recorded 29 goals and 22 assists for the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs in 2014-15, and was apart of the gold medal team Canada at World Junior Championships.

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