Panthers select defensemen Evan Nause and Vladislav Lukashevich

Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images After selecting forward Mackie Samoskevich in the first round, Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito went on the defensive with the club’s next two picks.

The Panthers took Evan Nause in the second round (56th overall) and Vladislav Lukashevich in the fourth (120th overall).

Nause (6’2” - 185 lbs) appeared in 32 games with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts and produced 4 goals and 18 assists during the truncated regular season. He scored a goal and added an assist in six postseason games.

His skill as a skater lends itself exceptionally well to the breakout. Nause creates advantages for himself on every defensive zone puck retrieval, shoulder…