The Florida Panthers select Michael Matheson 23rd overall. 

Here’s the skinny on Matheson:

A strong skater who can play a good two-way game. His feet are quick, agile and he generates very nice speed with a powerful stride. He has very quick, creative hands and nice vision when he has the puck. When he is at his best he can carry the puck up ice, gain the zone and then dish off to a teammate or hammer a point shot on net. He can be very effective when given time and space, particularly on the powerplay where he is a good quarterback. At the same time he can be forced into making bad decisions while under pressure. He has solid instincts in terms of creeping down into the offensive zone for a scoring opportunity. His passing game is inconsistent: Passes are strong when they are kept short but lack accuracy when targets are further away. He can play a strong physical game, battling along the wall and stepping up to land a check, but he can also get himself into penalty trouble as he often lacks discipline when engaged physically. He isn’t consistent enough in his overall game and needs to add more strength to improve his effectiveness. He’ll join Boston College this fall.

Want to know more about this player? Pick up FC’s 2012 NHL Draft Guide now!