Panthers place Tobias Bjornfot on injured reserve

In a corresponding move, the Panthers have called up defenseman Mikulas Hovorka from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.

The nature of Bjornfot’s injury is currently undisclosed, but he suffered the injury during Wednesday’s 5-4 shootout win over the Boston Bruins.

Bjornfot, 24, has played 10 games for the Panthers this season, putting up two goals and an assist for three points while playing limited, third-pairing minutes. In 22 games for Charlotte this season, he has a goal and six assists for seven points.

Initially selected 22nd overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Bjornfot spent four-plus years within the Kings’ organization without ever gaining a foothold at the NHL level. His longest look with Los Angeles came in the 2021-22 season, when he notched just eight assists in 70 NHL games.

Midway through the 2023-24 season, Bjornfot was placed on waivers by the Kings and picked up by the Vegas Golden Knights. After just two games played with Vegas and a stint on injured reserve, Bjornfot was again placed on waivers and claimed by the Panthers.

The Swedish national is currently on a one-year, $775,000 contract with Florida, and is scheduled to become a restricted free agent after the season.

Hovorka, 24, has yet to play in the NHL. The Czech national stands at an imposing 6’6″, and has two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 30 games with Charlotte this season. Hovorka went undrafted, and signed with Florida as an undrafted free agent ahead of last season.

The Panthers, who are currently eight points back of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, will play their final game before the Olympic break on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.