Originally taken by the Panthers in the fifth round (157th Overall) Vermanis, a 2022 NHL Draft pick, has made huge strides in the first two seasons of his career.
Vermanis scored 27 points (9G, 18A) in 61 games with the Charlotte Checkers in his first AHL season in 2024-25, and has 19 points (8G, 11A) in just 31 games this season.
He was tied for the lead in scoring on the Checkers when he was called up Saturday.
Vermanis found success in his debut with the Panthers, deploying on the team's third line along with Mackie Samoskovitch and Evan Rodriguez.
He earned some trust early, with five of 14 shifts coming in the third period.
“I'm getting more confident every period, every shift,” Vermanis said, “and I think that's really going to help me in my debut. I'm playing a lot of games. Every shift, I'm getting more confident.”
During the game, his mental endurance was also tested.
After a good offensive zone transition in the second quarter, Vermanis and his line ended up enduring long stretches in the defensive zone as Ottawa's offense tried to wear them down.
The turnaround, which lasted more than two minutes, was more than just about holding the fort, ending with Vilmanis and Samoskevich concentrating on a two-on-one rush that resulted in Samoskevich being cut down and the Panthers getting a power play.
On the ensuing man advantage, Carter Verhaeghe scored to give Florida a 2-1 lead.
“Every game, I think that happens in some way,” Vermanis said of the sequence. “You have to stay cool and collected in situations like this. I didn't think they had much of a chance. They were just playing. Our defense was really good.”
In February, Vermanis will face similar competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
After representing Latvia, he will become one of the youngest players in the team.
“It means a lot,” Vermanis said. “I'm really proud to wear the Latvian jersey.”
With major events in his life coming one after another, Vermanis is still just at the starting line and hopes to have a long and fruitful journey in the NHL with the Panthers.
For now, winning is a good starting point.
“The first game is always special,” teammate Gustav Forsling said when asked about Vermanis' debut. “I remember my game clearly. It's always good to win the first game for him.”
