Panthers sign Ludvig Jansson to entry-level contract

The Florida Panthers announced Tuesday that the club has signed defenseman Ludvig Jansson to a three-year, entry-level contract set to begin in the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Jansson was originally chosen by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft.

“Ludvig is an agile and talented defenseman that proved himself in Sweden’s top league this season, helping Lulea HF to a championship,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said in a statement. “We are excited for him to continue to develop within our organization.”

Through 50 appearances this season with Lulea HF of the top-tier Swedish league, Jansson scored once and added three assists for four points coupled with 37 penalty minutes and a minus-two rating. Jansson then added another two points through 17 postseason appearances.

In all, through two seasons and 100 career contests in the top professional league, Jansson totaled seven points counting one goal and six assists with 62 penalty minutes and a minus-nine mark.

The 21-year-old Swedish native has also seen success in international competition highlighted by the 2023 World Juniors where through seven appearances he racked up four goals and six assists for 10 points, tied for first in team scoring and top spot tournament-wide for goals and points by a defenseman. For his efforts, Jansson was recognized as a top-three player with the Swedish squad and earned a spot on the World Juniors’ All-Star Team.

Of note, the prior year also saw Jansson help Sweden to a bronze-medal victory at the 2022 World Juniors where through four games he finished with a minus-two rating.

Jansson is the third player to sign his entry-level contract with the Panthers in recent weeks, joining Swedish forward Anton Lundmark, who was recruited for Timra IK of the top professional Swedish league, as well as Denver Pioneers forward Jack Devine, who was originally chosen by Florida in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft.