Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito announced that the Panthers have signed free-agent forward Kevin Stenlund to a one-year contract. According to CapFriendly, the contract will have a cap hit of $1 million AAV.
The 26-year-old played the 2022-23 season with the Winnipeg Jets, collecting six goals and three assists in 54 games. He also spent time with the Jets’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, collecting 14 points in 19 games in that frame.
Stenlund was initially drafted 58th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2015 NHL Draft. The big-bodied center spent time in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with the prestigious HV71 club, and in 2016-17 he notched 20 points in 48 games, winning the SHL championship. The following season in 2017-18, he notched 22 points in 43 games.
He made his pro debut in 2017-18 with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, picking up two assists in seven games. He made his NHL debut the following season with the Blue Jackets, appearing in four games. He got a full season in 2019-20 with the Blue Jackets, registering 10 points in 32 games. Following a four-year stint in Ohio, he signed a one-year $750K contract with the Jets.
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