Sportswire Miami Staff/ June 1, 2026
The Florida Panthers have officially signed one of the top prospects in their pipeline, reaching a three-year entry-level agreement with Russian defenseman Matvei Shuravin. The deal begins with the 2026-27 season and represents another step in Florida’s effort to keep its prospect cupboard stocked as the organization looks toward the future.
According to the Panthers’ official announcement, Shuravin’s contract carries a cap hit of $1 million per season. Financial details reported by PuckPedia show a structured deal that includes signing bonuses in each year of the agreement. The contract is valued at roughly $3 million overall, and Shuravin will become a restricted free agent following the 2028-29 season when he is still just 23 years old.
For Panthers fans who may not be familiar with the young blueliner, Shuravin was selected by Florida in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft with the 97th overall pick. Since then, he has steadily climbed prospect rankings while developing within the CSKA Moscow system.
The Moscow native has spent time across multiple levels of Russian hockey during the 2025-26 season. He appeared in 21 KHL games with CSKA Moscow, recording one assist while gaining valuable experience against professional competition. He also suited up for 12 games with Zvezda Moscow in the VHL and played 15 contests with CSKA Red Army in the MHL.
His development path has been closely watched since his impressive 2024-25 campaign. During that season, Shuravin posted 24 points on four goals and 20 assists in 38 MHL games. He led all defensemen on his team in assists and points while tying for the most goals among blueliners. He also served as an assistant captain, an indication of the trust coaches placed in him despite his young age.
Shuravin’s experience against top-level competition began early. He made his KHL debut on October 9, 2023, at just 17 years old. Across 32 career KHL games over three seasons, he has collected three assists while continuing to earn opportunities at one of Russia’s most respected hockey organizations.
Panthers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito expressed confidence in the young defenseman after the signing became official.
“Matvei is a poised, two-way defenseman who reads the game exceptionally well,” Zito said. “We’re looking forward to watching him progress as a professional in North America.”
That description lines up with many scouting reports surrounding Shuravin. Evaluators have consistently praised his size, mobility, defensive awareness, and ability to move the puck efficiently. While he is not viewed as an offense-first defenseman, scouts have pointed to his passing ability, positioning, and strong decision-making as traits that project well at higher levels.
There has been some variation in listed measurements depending on the source, but the Panthers’ official release lists Shuravin at 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, giving him the kind of frame NHL organizations covet on the back end.
The signing is notable for another reason. NHL.com’s prospect rankings currently place Shuravin as the top prospect in Florida’s system. For a franchise that has spent years competing for championships and moving draft assets to strengthen its NHL roster, securing a high-end defensive prospect remains an important part of maintaining long-term organizational depth.
Shuravin still has development ahead of him, but Florida clearly believes the foundation is there. With his combination of size, defensive instincts, and professional experience already accumulated in Russia, the Panthers are betting that one of their most promising young players can eventually become a key piece of the organization’s future blue line.
