Florida Panthers in Development: 2024 NHL Draft Class Matvei Shuravin

The player's profile and article were created for the FL Teams.

Matvei Shuravin, 2024 NHL Draft

The Florida Panthers have made it to three consecutive Stanley Cup finals and won back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025. Still, they don't have a first-round pick until 2028. The team will have to rely on its present core and developing prospects.

One of them is Matvei Shuravin, a 6-foot-2 defenseman selected in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft, No. 97 overall. He is in the final year of his three-way contract with CSKA Moscow, which includes splitting time between the Junior Hockey League, KHL, and VHL. Due to a rehabilitation process, the blueliner missed a recent prospect camp in Fort Lauderdale. I had a chance to catch up with the Panthers prospect during his off-ice training.

Roberto Luongo, special advisor to the Panthers' General Manager, has been around the team's practice facility to watch different hockey camps and showcases while you were there, too. Have you ever met him?

Matvei: The first time I met him was after the draft in 2024. I shared my childhood memory with him. My parents gave me a PlayStation when I was about 5 years old, so I always played the NHL and chose Luongo as my goalie. He was with the Vancouver Canucks at that time. But he laughed at my story.

Do you remember anything else about your draft day?

Matvei: I was right there at the Sphere venue, in Las Vegas, sitting with other guys, and patiently waiting for my name to be called. Well, 96 players were drafted before me (laughing). I was happy to be selected by the Panthers. I wasn't the highest pick, but it motivates me to prove myself.

Let's focus on the Florida Panthers' success. The team's structure and playing style make it very challenging to get on that roster. How ready are you for aggressive forechecking?

M: I'm ready to execute whatever coaches ask me to. I love playing hockey and competing. I can adapt to any style.

You were working out in Fort Lauderdale during the 2025 Panthers' Championship Parade. How did it make you feel?

M: I'm happy for the organization. But it wasn't my celebration, because I didn't win anything. I hope to have one in the future.

Do you have a favorite Panthers player or someone you admire on the team?

M: That's the thing about this team - it works well as a mechanism. It's hard to acknowledge just one player. Two consecutive Stanley Cups say it all. It takes discipline and reliability.

In the last few years, the Norris Trophy has been awarded to defensemen with excellent offensive abilities and the most points. But the number one job of any blueliner is to defend, block, prevent, and get a puck out. Should there be another award that highlights more of defensive qualities?

M: There are two types of defensemen. One is like Erik Karlsson, who has a strong ability to earn as many points as a high-scoring forward. And there is Nate Schmidt, who some people probably underestimated, but he had a solid playoff run with the Panthers. He won the Stanley Cup. I'm not sure if he's interested in an individual award.

M: The one who makes the right decisions under pressure and is helpful to his team in every aspect. Our number one responsibility is to protect our zone and net. But in modern hockey, it's crucial to help up front too. I'd say that Victor Hedman of the Lightning's championship seasons is the best example of the ideal D-man. Solid, reliable, and cold-blooded with a powerful shot. If someone pressured him, Hedman didn't hesitate to turn a situation around without any nerves.

Shuravin plans to keep growing his game to get a shot with the Florida Panthers in the future. He's a mobile, large, and confident defenseman. At only 19, he has played in two men's leagues in Russia: 11 KHL (2 assists, +5) and 7 VHL (1 assist, +1) games.

One thing is for sure: Shuravin has time to mature and get NHL-ready.