Florida Panthers prospect cracks Olympic lineup

On Monday, Panthers prospect Sandis Vilmanis was reported to have made Latvia's Olympic team, a big step for a kid still grinding in the AHL.

Right now, that news is still in the «reported» bucket, because Latvia hasn't publicly posted a full, finalized 25-man list in the places fans usually check. What we do know is final rosters are being locked in in early 2026.

Either way, it fits the bigger picture for Florida's pipeline, because Vilmanis is not some random invite. He's a 21-year-old winger, drafted by the Panthers in 2022, and he's already playing real pro minutes for the Charlotte Checkers.

The production is starting to follow him, too, not just the hype. Vilmanis has 18 points this season, eight goals and ten assists, after putting up 27 points in 61 games last year in his first full AHL run.

That's the kind of curve Latvia tends to reward, especially for a forward who plays with pace and isn't afraid of the greasy areas. He can beat a defender wide, then cut inside and get his shot off quickly.

International selection can sharpen a young player's habits fast, because every shift is a tryout. You learn to manage the puck, reload hard, and earn trust without needing perfect conditions.

For Florida, it's also a quiet win in development, because confidence matters at this stage. If Vilmanis finishes January strong in Charlotte, the next milestone is simple, keep forcing the organization to notice.