Oliver Okuliar

February 2025 – Okuliar remains one of the most skilled players in the Panthers’ system, regardless of league. When the puck is on Okuliar’s stick, he can do things few others can do. The thing that is restricting Okuliar from making the NHL is his ability to play bottom-six hockey. While there is little question about his offensive capabilities and puck skills, his 200-foot game is still in need of improvement if he wants to earn the chance to get a call-up to impress the Panthers’ coaching staff. He will be 25 years old next season and is set to hit free agency this coming summer. Whether he stays in North America or heads back to Europe is still up in the air but as it stands, Okuliar will be a name to keep an eye out for. James Connelly

September 2024 – Okuliar has been a treat to watch so far competing for the Panthers throughout the summer and into the fall. He immediately stood out at the Panthers’ prospect camp and carried his dominance over to the prospect showcase later in the summer. In the games he did play, Okuliar was one of the most noticeable offensive producers for the Panthers alongside Gracyn Sawchyn, and in the game he did not play, the Panthers’ offensive output was visibly hindered. He has yet to play a preseason game but his performance will likely indicate where he will go to start the season, most likely to Charlotte. This will probably be best for his development as he can get as much ice time as possible and further refine his game on smaller North American ice. Okuliar has top-six-level skills and could complement the Panthers’ most skilled forwards but may not be able to perform in a bottom-six which limits his NHL certainty. He will be a name to watch out for as the year progresses and could play NHL games as soon as this year. James Connelly

June 2024 – Okuliar’s road to earning an NHL contract has been quite unorthodox. He was by far the most offensively skilled player on Mountfield HK, of the Czech league, outproducing his next closest teammate by 11 points with 45 and scoring twice as many goals as any of his teammates with 24. Okuliar is always looking to attack the net with the puck on his stick and is not afraid to use high-skill moves. At times he can look dominant in the offensive zone but a lot of his points come off of rush chances. Looking ahead, he will likely begin his year in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers but could push for a spot within the Panthers’ lineup if some forwards get hurt. This coming season will be a make-or-break year for Okuliar likely determining whether he will earn an NHL chance or be a career European/AHL player. If he pans out at the NHL level, he could be a solid middle-six winger who can play on either powerplay unit. James Connelly