Florida Panthers 2017 first-round pick Owen Tippett appeared in seven games with the team this season before being sent back to OHL. 

Tippett scored 36 goals and posted 75 points with the Mississauga Steelheads and joined the Springfield Thunderbirds for five games at the end of the AHL season, scoring one goal and adding an assist.

The Panthers are now expecting Tippett to make the leap to the NHL this fall and provide a scoring touch in Sunrise.

“I expect him to come to camp and fight for a job,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon told the Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday. “You know, he’s a great shooter, no one can shoot the puck better than this kid. He loves to shoot it, and we’ve got a lot of playmakers that can give him the puck.

"So we’re gonna give him every opportunity to make our team. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s how good you are and how hard you work.”

Tippett said he has similar expectations for himself after posting one goal in seven games last October.

“Obviously it’s a goal of mine to crack the lineup this year. And obviously I want to stick this year,” Tippett said.

The Panthers missed the playoffs by just one point this spring and added winger Mike Hoffman earlier this month in a trade with the San Jose Sharks.

“I mean, obviously, it’s pretty exciting,” Tippett said. “You saw what they did at the end of the year last year. And it’s great for the hockey club and great for the city of Florida.

“They missed the playoff by one point, and obviously I want to contribute this year.”