Justin Sourdif

February 2025 – Sourdif has quickly established himself as the Panthers’ best prospect on the Checkers this year. Everybody, including Sourdif himself, wanted to see him reach the next level of consistency everybody knew he could reach and he has done just that. He is currently on pace to be the Panthers’ most productive prospect in the AHL and is doing so on a line with C.J. Smith and Kyle Criscuolo, two solid but not great AHL scorers. Sourdif is set to turn 23 late next month but has proven to be a consistent and valuable player for the Checkers this year and could earn a shot in the NHL later this season if he is moved as a part of a trade but should definitely compete strongly for a roster spot at the start of next season. He projects as a middle-six scorer who contributes on the secondary powerplay unit. James Connelly

November 2024 – During the Panthers’ training camp, Sourdif got a bit banged up with an upper-body injury that landed him on the season-opening injured reserve. However, earlier this week, Sourdif was taken off the SOIR and was sent to the AHL where he saw his first action this season. Sourdif had an impact on the scoresheet of both games he played in notching a pair of assists. In these games, Sourdif looked the part of a top-end AHLer. Sourdif will have many more opportunities to make a difference with the Checkers this season and hopefully will put himself in a position to be competing for NHL minutes as soon as next year. James Connelly

July 2024 – Sourdif’s sophomore year in the AHL left some to be desired but also showed clear improvement. Bouncing between the third and second lines, Sourdif was called upon as a 200 ft player. His offense has remained streaky with 24 of his 38 points coming on nights where he had a multi-point performance. Despite this, Sourdif projects as a player who can slot in on a middle six, either as a center or winger, who can bring a mean streak and potentially score his fair share of points. Sourdif will likely be one of the Charlotte Checkers’ main offensive weapons next season and could be due for a call-up if he impresses at Panthers training camp and produces at a high rate in the AHL. He did prove to be worthy of a cup of coffee in the NHL last year playing in 3 games and should be due for many more down the road. James Connelly

August 2023 – The 21-year-old winger is a skilled, all-around sniper with above-average skating who plays a physical game and has a penchant for scoring clutch goals. He proved in junior that he can both carry a team and play more of a complementary role, versatility that bodes well for his future in the NHL. Although Sourdif’s AHL production as a rookie pro looks underwhelming (0.5 points per game), he ran hot and cold throughout the year: 16 of his points came from two separate hot streaks (17 games combined), while he scored only 10 points over the remaining 35 games. If he can hit the scoresheet with more consistency, there is still top-six NHL potential here. Look for him to take a noticeable step forward in his second year with the Checkers (AHL) and move his way up Florida’s call-up hierarchy. Ben Gehrels

December 2022 – Sourdif is slowly acclimating to pro-level hockey with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). His rookie production (eight points in 24 games) does not jump off the page but has scored some key goals of late, demonstrating the same big-game clutch production he showed as the captain of the Vancouver Giants and then member of the powerhouse Edmonton Oil Kings in his final year in junior. Sourdif is not a big guy but he plays physically and should play a more significant role on the Checkers down the stretch as he continues to adjust to the AHL. If he can hit the scoresheet with more regularity next year, he should be one of the next in line for call ups in 2023-24. Ben Gehrels

June 2022 – Sourdif began the 2022-23 WHL season captaining a shaky Vancouver Giants squad but was traded halfway through to the powerhouse Oil Kings. There he almost doubled his scoring rate and came up clutch in the playoffs, scoring an overtime goal to send his team to the finals. He is a big-game player who produces regardless of linemates and impacts the game in a variety of ways. He will transition to the AHL next year and is shaping up into a valuable middle-six forward with upside. Ben Gehrels

October 2020 – Sourdif was drafted 87th overall by the Panthers. Sourdif is expected to spend two more years in the WHL before turning pro.  Jokke Nevalainen

December 2019 – Sourdif’s offensive production might be a tad inconsistent at times, but the way he sees the game is why he will be drafted in the late first/early second round on draft day. If he sees a teammate try to cycle, but there is not a fellow Vancouver Giants player along the boards, you can expect that Sourdif will jump for the puck. He will cover a pinching defenseman and is aggressive in all three zones. Sourdif’s passes are quick and accurate. He will often look to make passes in the slot to his wingers. So far this season, Sourdif has tallied 12 goals and 15 assists in 30 games. If he can be more consistent with his offensive production, there is a chance that analysts could place him in the top 20 rankings for the draft, but at this point, he looks like a late first-round selection. Josh Tessler