The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by members of the Die By The Blade community. It was a combination of staff writers and over 200 readers that ranked Buffalo Sabres players under the age of 25 as of August 1, 2023. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production to rank each player. Staff votes counted equally with reader votes.
Norwin Panocha
Drafted: 2023, 7th round, 205th overall
Position: Defense, shoots left
Born: Feb. 24, 2005
2022-2023 stats: DEL – 3 GP – 0-0-0, 0/DEL 2 – 5 GP-0-1-1, -1/DNL U20 – 34 GP, 6-16-22, 6 PIM
2022 T25U25 Ranking: Not ranked in the Top 25
German defenseman Norwin Panocha was Buffalo’s final pick of the 2023 NHL Draft. He spent most of last season with Berlin’s Eisbären Juniors. Panocha had six goals, 16 assists and 22 points in 34 regular season matchups. In the postseason, his numbers were two, three and five, in eight contests.
He also played for the DEL’s Berlin Polar Bears and on loan to the DEL-2’s Lausitzer Foxes, for three and five games, respectively. Panocha had slightly better stats with the Foxes, with an 0-1-1 record.
The d-man represented Germany during the U18 World Championships, where he enjoyed three points and served two penalty minutes in six contests. One of his best performances at the U18 came during a game against Slovakia. With team Germany trailing 1-0 at the end of the first period, Panocha picked up a rebound and shot the puck in Slovakia’s net to tie it up.
Even though Germany eventually lost to Norway 3-2, Lucas Akroyd of Iihf.com mentioned how Norwin Panocha beat Norwegian goalie Martin Lundberg with a power play one-timer. The goal was one of the team’s only two in the matchup and one of Germany’s few bright spots in the game.
Panocha was originally supposed to spend 2023-24 in Germany playing for Eisbären Berlin, but as of 8/11, he’ll be in Canada, competing for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, according to Eurohockey.com. Eisbären Berlin confirmed the move on their web site, declaring in German that “Norwin Panocha wechselt nach Kanada”, rough translation: “Norwin Panocha transfers to Canada.”
The German defenseman might play in Quebec for quite a while. The Sabres aren’t in any rush to sign him, not having to decide until June 1, 2027, per CapFriendly.
2023 Buffalo Sabres Top 25 Under 25 –
#24 – Matteo Constantini
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