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-4 defenseman selected in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft at No. 97 overall. He is in the final year of his three-way contract with CSKA Moscow, which allows him to play in the junior league (MHL) and two men’s leagues from the CSKA system (KHL and VHL).
Shuravin was born in a sports family. His father, Dmitriy, is a former professional volleyball player and a sports manager. So, competing runs in Matvei’s veins. “I was a very energetic child.” Shuravin admits. “My parents wanted to make sure that I contribute all my energy in the right direction. So, they offered me to play some sports.”
Shuravin started to skate at the age of four. While his parents let him choose hockey over other sports, his youth coach decided that he would be better off as a defenseman.
At 17, he debuted in the KHL on Oct. 9, 2023, registering one shot in his first men’s league experience. A week later, he scored his first KHL goal against the Kunlun Red Star. The milestone also made him the youngest player in CSKA’s KHL history to net a tally. Shuravin was only 17 years and 208 days old at that time. Eight months later, he was drafted by the Panthers in Las Vegas.
Profile
Height: 6′4″
Weight: 218 lb
Age: 19
Shoots: L
Birthplace: Moscow, RUS
Draft: 2024, FLA, 3rd round, 32nd pick (97th overall)
Current team: CSKA, three-way contract
• MHL (Junior League): 87 games, 7 goals, 29 assists, +41
Advantages
His size and long stick help him win battles. He still needs to earn the coaches’ trust to roll in more ice time in the KHL before he is ready to conquer the NHL. In the junior league, he has gained experience on penalty kills and power plays. Something his potential future coach, Paul Maurice, values is defensive dedication near the crease. Blueliners have to protect their home space, support the goaltender, and clear the zone. Shuravin is taught to be a stay-at-home defenseman and avoid any risky moves. He has an entire season to excel in his physical play and sharpen his skills. Shuravin spent some part of his offseason in Fort Lauderdale, working on his conditioning. Due to a rehabilitation process, the blueliner missed a recent Panthers prospect camp in July.
Daria Mironova of FL Teams had a chance to catch up with the Panthers prospect during his off-ice training.
Interview
Daria: “Roberto Luongo, the special advisor to the Panthers’ General Manager, has been around the team’s practice facility to watch different hockey camps and showcases while you are here. Have you 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. He laughed at my story.”
Daria: “What else do you remember 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.”
Daria: “Let’s focus on the Panthers’ success. The way the team is built, the way it plays, it’s very challenging to get on that roster. How ready are you for aggressive forechecking?”
Matvei: “I’m ready to execute whatever the coaches ask me to. I love playing hockey and competing. I think I can adapt to any style.”
Daria: “You were working out in Fort Lauderdale during the 2025 Panthers’ Championship Parade. How did it make you feel?”
Matvei: “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.”
Daria: “Do you have a favorite Panthers player or someone you admire?”
Matvei: “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.”
Daria: “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?”
Matvei: “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 individual awards.”
Daria: “Describe a perfect defenseman. What is he like?”
Matvei: “The one who makes the right decisions under pressure and is helpful to his team in every corner. 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 defenseman. 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 Panthers in the future. He’s a mobile, large, and confident defenseman. At only 19, he has played in two professional men’s leagues in Russia. It’s challenging to get more ice time, but his growth and dreams are in his hands. After all, his vision and goals are clear.
One thing is for sure: Shuravin has an entire season to mature and get NHL-ready.