Simas Ignatavičius

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
Simas Ignatavičius
Born (2007-10-22) 22 October 2007
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Height 190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 91 kg (201 lb; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
NL team Genève-Servette HC
NHL draft 40th overall, 2026
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2025–present

Simas Ignatavičius (born 22 October 2007) is an American-born Lithuanian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL). He was selected 40th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2026 NHL entry draft. With this selection, he became only the third Lithuanian player ever drafted into the NHL, joining Darius Kasparaitis and Dainius Zubrus.[1]

Career

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, he was raised in Lithuania.[2] Ignatavičius moved to Switzerland at 12 years old to pursue his ice hockey career. He joined the Genève-Servette HC main roster for the 2025–26 season, where he recorded nine goals and seven assists in 63 matches. In his debut season, he was named the National League's Rookie of the Year.[3]

International play

He represented Lithuania's under-18 team at age 14 and made his senior team debut in 2026.

Personal life

Ignatavičius's father, Mantas Ignatavičius, played professional basketball in various European countries, and his mother, Rita, was a high-level handball player.[4] Ignatavičius is fluent in four languages – Lithuanian, English, French, and Russian.[5]

References

  1. Maxwell, Scott (27 June 2026). "Panthers select Simas Ignatavicius No. 40 overall at the 2026 NHL Draft". Daily Faceoff. Archived from the original on 28 June 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  2. "Prieš NHL naujokų biržą – skirtingos prognozės dėl Simo Ignatavičiaus". tv3.lt (in Lithuanian). 25 June 2026. Archived from the original on 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  3. Jakilaitė, Barbora (19 June 2026). "NHL šaukimo laukiantis Ignatavičius: nesvarbu, kokia didelė svajonė, ją įmanoma pasiekti". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 20 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  4. "Simui Ignatavičiui – aukšta vieta tarp geriausių NHL naujokų biržos dešiniojo krašto puolėjų". sportas.lt (in Lithuanian). 14 June 2026. Archived from the original on 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  5. "Keturiomis kalbomis kalbantis lietuvis artėja prie didžiausios savo svajonės". sportas.lt (in Lithuanian). 6 June 2026. Archived from the original on 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.