Chase Priskie Bio
Chase Evans Priskie is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who plays with HC Sibir Novosibirsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He appeared in four National Hockey League (NHL) contests with the Florida Panthers and is recognized as the first player exclusively born and raised in South Florida to suit up for the Panthers. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing roughly 184 pounds, Priskie skates as a right-shot defenseman who built his career through the college ranks before turning professional in 2019.
Early Life and Background
Chase Priskie was born on March 19, 1996, in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He is the only child of Jeff Priskie and Lisa Evans and grew up in a Jewish household in South Florida. He became a Florida Panthers fan at a very young age, attending his first Panthers game when he was only 27 days old on April 16, 1996.
Priskie came of age in one of the more non-traditional hockey markets in the United States, yet he gravitated toward the sport early and continued to develop his skills through his teen years in Florida. His South Florida roots later gave his NHL debut a special meaning for the local fan base that had watched him grow up around the team.
Path to Hockey
Priskie played junior hockey in the United States Hockey League before committing to Quinnipiac University, where he suited up for the Bobcats. In his first collegiate season, he averaged top-four minutes and finished third in points among team defensemen. He was ranked 126th overall by NHL Central Scouting heading into his draft year, then played three more seasons at Quinnipiac, finishing with more than a point per game in his final year.
While at Quinnipiac, Priskie served as team captain from 2017 to 2019. He majored in finance with a minor in computer science, graduating early in 2018, and completed a Master of Business Administration in 2019, also from Quinnipiac. In his senior season, he led all college defensemen in goals scored and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, ultimately losing the honor to Cale Makar.
Chase Priskie Career
Draft and First Contract (2016–2019)
Originally eligible for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Priskie was not selected until 2016, when the Washington Capitals chose him 177th overall near the end of the sixth round. He was not signed by the Capitals after his senior season at Quinnipiac and became a free agent in August 2019. On August 17, 2019, he agreed to terms on a two-year entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Priskie did not make the Hurricanes roster out of training camp and was assigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). In 52 games with the Checkers he recorded 31 points, establishing himself as a reliable two-way defenseman.
Florida Panthers Era (2020–2022)
On February 24, 2020, at the NHL trade deadline, the Hurricanes traded Priskie, along with Erik Haula, Eetu Luostarinen, and Lucas Wallmark, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Vincent Trocheck. He finished that season in the AHL with Florida’s affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. During the 2020–21 season, when the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning shared an AHL team, Priskie appeared in 15 games with the Syracuse Crunch.
As a restricted free agent, Priskie signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 with the Panthers on August 5, 2021. He began the 2021–22 AHL season with the Checkers, who had become Florida’s affiliate, and was called up to the Panthers three times by early November 2021. He made his NHL debut on November 4, 2021, against the Washington Capitals after an injury to Radko Gudas, playing on the bottom defensive pair next to Kevin Connauton. He logged 10:37 of ice time and recorded one shot on goal in a 5–4 overtime victory, becoming the first player born and raised in South Florida to play a game for the Panthers. His accomplishment was celebrated with several billboards in the Sunrise, Florida, area.
Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks (2022–2023)
Priskie became an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2021–22 season and signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 13, 2022, the opening day of NHL free agency. He spent most of his time in the AHL with the Rochester Americans before being dealt to the Anaheim Ducks on March 3, 2023, in exchange for Austin Strand. He finished the year with the AHL affiliate San Diego Gulls.
Washington Capitals Era (2023–2025)
On July 5, 2023, Priskie signed a one-year, two-way contract to join his original draft club, the Washington Capitals. He spent time with both the Capitals and their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, contributing as a depth defenseman. On June 28, 2025, at the NHL Entry Draft, the Capitals traded Priskie and a fourth-round pick to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Declan Chisholm and a sixth-round pick. The Wild did not offer him a new contract, leaving him as a free agent once again.
Driving Style and Strengths
Priskie is a mobile, right-shot defenseman known for his steady defensive zone play and offensive instincts developed during his record-setting college career at Quinnipiac. His ability to log top-four minutes, quarterback the power play, and contribute offensively while remaining responsible in his own end has made him a reliable depth option at the NHL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Priskie’s most celebrated moment came on November 4, 2021, when he became the first player born and raised in South Florida to play for the Florida Panthers. The achievement was recognized with billboards in the Sunrise, Florida, area, marking a full-circle moment for a lifelong Panthers fan who had attended his first game at 27 days old.
Chase Priskie Career Highlights
Across his professional career, Priskie has suited up in four NHL games, all with the Florida Panthers, while logging extensive time in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, Springfield Thunderbirds, Syracuse Crunch, Rochester Americans, San Diego Gulls, and Hershey Bears.
NCAA Highlights
Priskie played four seasons at Quinnipiac University, finishing with more than a point per game in his senior year. He served as team captain from 2017 to 2019, led all NCAA defensemen in goals scored during his final season, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, ultimately finishing behind Cale Makar.
Other Performances
Priskie recorded 31 points in 52 AHL games during his first professional season with the Charlotte Checkers in 2019–20, establishing his offensive credentials at the pro level. He has continued to contribute as a steady two-way presence across multiple AHL affiliates throughout his career.
Chase Priskie Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Chase Priskie was raised in Pembroke Pines, Florida, as the only child of Jeff Priskie and Lisa Evans. He grew up in a Jewish household, and his family supported his pursuit of hockey in a non-traditional market.
Personal Life
Priskie majored in finance with a minor in computer science at Quinnipiac University, graduating early in 2018, and completed a Master of Business Administration at the same school in 2019. A lifelong Florida Panthers fan, he attended his first NHL game at 27 days old and later became the first South Florida native to play for the team.
2025 Season Performance
After being traded by the Washington Capitals to the Minnesota Wild at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28, 2025, Priskie was not extended a contract offer by the Wild. Looking to continue his career, he signed a one-year deal with HC Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL on July 18, 2025, beginning a new chapter abroad in Russia.
His move to the KHL represents his first professional experience outside North America, giving him an opportunity to log significant top-level minutes while expanding his game against international competition. The deal runs through the 2025–26 KHL season and offers Priskie a chance to showcase his skills on a larger stage.
Heading into the 2025–26 campaign, Priskie’s outlook centers on establishing himself as a reliable defenseman for Sibir Novosibirsk while keeping the door open for a potential return to North American hockey. His blend of offensive upside and defensive responsibility makes him a candidate to play prominent minutes in the KHL and to attract future interest from NHL clubs.