Photo Source: polskihokej.eu

After going undrafted in the 2024 NHL entry draft, Krzysztof Maciaś was left as an undrafted free agent. The Prince of Polish hockey was free to sign anywhere, and now he is taking his talents to South Beach. Macias has been invited to the Florida Panther’s development camp. The Panthers just came off a huge season, winning their first Stanley Cup in their over 30-year history. 

In development camps, it is a chance for the club’s executives and coaches to get up close and look at their new draft picks, prospects, and some free agents. The players are put through rigorous workouts on and off the ice while also working on developing their skills. The event also sees the players work on numerous life skills for their time off the ice. At the end, teams often split into two or four squads to play an exhibition game or tournament. Alan Łyszczarczyk attended the Toronto Maple Leafs’ development camp during the 2016 offseason. 

Macias was the first U20 player to represent Poland in the Elite Division since Mariusz Czerkawski in 1992. At the World Championship, he scored two goals in Poland’s opening match, a surprise 5-4 overtime loss against Latvia. During the 2023-24 season, he played in the Western Hockey League with the Prince Albert Raiders. With the Saskatchewan club he posted 48 points (23G-25A-48PTS) in 70 games. His 48 points placed him tied for fourth on the Raiders in points and ninth among import skaters in the WHL. 

Macias will now look to impress the Panthers staff to earn another invite to the team’s prospect camp or a contract at any of the three levels of the Panther’s organization. The young forward is eligible to return to the Raiders and WHL for one more year as an overager. We will know more about the odds of that after the CHL Import draft on July 3rd. If the Raiders pick another import skater in that draft, they will have three imports on the roster and be over the two-import limit. Macias is in a rough spot, given the import and overager limit are both already full on the Raider’s roster. We could see him winning a roster battle on the Raiders, getting traded to another WHL club, or being placed on import waivers, allowing an OHL or QMJHL club to claim the Polish forward.

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