Sandis Vilmanis earns praise from Florida Panthers leadership

Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito and head coach Paul Maurice have expressed confidence in Latvian forward Sandis Vilmanis as the team begins its NHL preseason training camp. Zito noted that Vilmanis’s experience playing for the Latvian national team in the World Championships helped build the confidence necessary to become a stable NHL player.

During the recent World Championships, Vilmanis set a new Latvian national team record in the elite division by recording 11 points (4 goals and 7 assists) in eight matches. Following a 19-game debut season last year, Vilmanis recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers worth $1.75 million.

Coach Paul Maurice highlighted Vilmanis’s puck protection, stick skills, and physical strength, noting that the forward has earned a spot in the opening preseason lines alongside Anton Lundell and Etu Luostarinen. Latvian defenseman Uvis Jānis Balinskis is also participating in the Panthers' preseason camp.