As injuries pile up, top Panthers prospect is set for NHL debut. Meet Jack Devine
Jack Devine was on the phone with his mom Valerie on his way to get a coffee on Tuesday when his phone rang.
On the other end of the line: Florida Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito.
The message: Pack your bags and head to South Florida.
As the Panthers continue to deal with a slew of injuries, including two more hitting this week in forwards Cole Schwindt (broken arm) and Eetu Luostarinen (burns from a barbecuing accident), Florida recalled one of its top forward prospects in Devine in the latest testing of their already tested depth.
He will make his NHL debut Thursday when the Panthers host the New Jersey Devils, playing on the fourth line with Luke Kunin and Noah Gregor.
“Obviously, there were some things that happened here that was unfortunate, and you never want to see that,” Devine said after practice Wednesday. “But for me, I’m grateful to be here. I’m hoping that I can control what I have out there, and be just a great guy in the locker room and a good teammate.”
Devine has certainly earned the shot. He has been a fast riser among Panthers prospects since Florida drafted him in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
He was a star for four years at the University of Denver, logging 163 points (57 goals, 106 assists) in 162 games with the Pioneers while helping them win a pair of national championships in 2022 and 2024. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, NCAA hockey’s MVP, in 2024 and 2025.
And he hasn’t slowed down since starting his pro career. Devine joined the Charlotte Checkers for their playoff run last season, which went all the way to the Calder Cup Finals. In his first full pro season this year, he was leading Charlotte with 12 points (six goals, six assists) before joining Florida.
“He’s an interesting player for sure. He’s very bright,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said of Devine. “He reads the game exceptional. Has good hands, competitive, quiet. We’ve got other players a little bit like him, but I’m excited to see him. I think he will be coach appreciated before the fans. It won’t be blinding speed or something, but he’ll be in the right spots. Smart guy, competitive guy. I think he’s going to develop into a really good pro.”
Devine got a glimpse of what to expect at the NHL level when he took part in training camp in September. He said having already been around the coaches, his new teammates and the facility helped him get acclimated.
“These guys were great there,” Devine said. “And honestly, throughout the organization, they always tell you that everyone’s important, no matter what league you’re in. I think that’s always a great reminder, so when you do come up here, it’s kind of like one big family.”
The message to Devine from the Panthers as he gets ready for his first game: Just be yourself. The nerves are going to be there. That’s natural and expected. But don’t let them change his approach to the game.
“I would imagine the pressure they put on themselves is equal to the size of the milestone, but I don’t want that,” Maurice said. “Like they will look at this such a huge game. ‘It’s my first game. It’s such a big deal.’ It’s really not going to affect the outcome of his career. You want to take it all in. Like, if he gets a hat trick, he’s not getting a 10-year deal tomorrow. If he’s minus-2, we’re not ending his career. Nothing’s really going to change. It’s just the first step. It’s an incredibly small step, but it is a huge milestone. I want him to be able to take it in — the national anthem, the crowd, the speed of it. You want to see this.”
Added forward Mackie Samoskevich, who was in Devine’s shoes just two years ago: “Just talk to him, make him feel like he’s one of us because he is. I remember my first one, just how they were with me. It’s fresh in my mind, so I’ll help calm him down. Obviously nerves are high with your first one, but telling him to enjoy it because he only gets one of them. Just try to soak it all in.”
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