The member of the Lithuanian youth national team played this season in Switzerland, in the Geneva “Servette” club, and was recognized as the best rookie in this country’s league.
Although he hoped to be called in the first round, S. Ignatavičius said that even if he was called in the second round, everything is very good.
“I really thought you might ask on the first day, but you never know if trade or something, everything can change. It didn’t take, but I wasn’t really upset that it didn’t. Really positive. Now that Florida has taken it with their first draft that they’ve had this year, I’m really happy and it can’t be better than Florida, Miami Beach and so on. Really good,” the 18-year-old told the Lithuanian Ice Hockey Federation with a smile.
The guy revealed that he will be on a flight to the state of Florida on Sunday morning, US time, where the process of becoming a member of the Panthers will be extended. By then, S. Ignatavičius had already talked with the team’s general manager and the coach.
“I had a conversation with GMand with the coach – we had a really good conversation. Everyone is satisfied excited. There are no words, but I say that I am really happy.”
When asked about his future, the Lithuanian was not yet sure about it.
“We’ll see how it will be. I don’t think it will be clear right away, it will be later: in September, in October,” said the ice hockey player.
“Unequivocally, immediately go somewhere else – to America,” the future Panthers member later said about his wishes. “If I stay another year in Geneva, I will be really satisfied, everything is really good.”
S. Ignatavičius said that he had received many messages of support – so much so that he did not have time to respond to all of them yet, and additional time would be required for this.
“I received a lot of (messages). I haven’t had time to reply to everyone yet, I’m full of messages, it will take some time, I think, but I’m trying to reply to everyone, I really thank everyone for their support and messages – it really means a lot,” said the 18-year-old with a smile on his face.
S. Ignatavičius became just the third Lithuanian to be called up in the NHL draft. Only Darius Kasparaičius (1992) and Dainis Zubr (1996) have managed to do this so far.
“I haven’t really done anything like D. Zubrus or D. Kasparaitis – there’s still a lot of work to do before that. I hope that one day I can be like them, but it’s still a long way off,” admitted the young hockey talent.
