Sandis Vilmanis recalled, Florida Panthers lineup squeeze starts now

The Florida Panthers announced Saturday they recalled forward Sandis Vilmanis from the Charlotte Checkers. That one move tells you Paul Maurice wants an extra option up front, not just an emergency body.

Vilmanis is 21, a 2022 fifth-round pick at 157th overall, and he's built like a modern winger at 6-foot-1 and 192 pounds. In Charlotte this season he has eight goals and 19 points in 31 games, so he's not just «filling time» down there.

This is the kind of call-up that can change the bottom six without touching the stars. Vilmanis can skate, get in on the forecheck, and still make a play off the wall when the puck pops loose.

For tonight in Ottawa, the simplest reading is depth and insurance. Daily Faceoff's game-day look had Florida's forward group set without Vilmanis in a spot, which usually means he's the extra unless warmups say otherwise.

So who might actually draw in against the Ottawa Senators if Maurice changes it late. Tomas Nosek is listed day to day, and that's the cleanest doorway for a new forward to step into the mix.

If the Panthers stay with the same 12 forwards, Vilmanis likely watches and learns, and that still has value on a trip. If someone can't go, he's the fresh set of legs who can keep shifts short and keep the puck moving north.

I love the idea of rewarding a kid who's producing in Charlotte, especially when the big club needs energy.

Ottawa plays with speed through the middle, and Florida can't afford lazy changes or soft exits. A young winger who can skate and track back hard can help the Panthers survive those Senators transition bursts.

The bigger picture is the looming return wave, because roster math always gets tight when bodies come back. Even if Vilmanis doesn't play Saturday, this recall feels like the first domino in a run of real lineup decisions.

Warmups will give the real answer, but the message is already clear. The Panthers are preparing for change, and they want options before the puck drops.

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