The Florida Panthers recall AHL defensive man Jacob Megna on Wednesday.
In a corresponding move, defensive man Tobias Bjornfot was sent to Charlotte.
Megna, who joined the Panthers as a free agent on a one-year two-way contract in July, has been a steady presence in the AHL blue line this season, scoring 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) and a +23 plus/negative rating in 64 games against the Checker.
Originally chosen by Anaheim Ducks in the seventh round of the 2012 NHL Draft (210th overall), Megna, from Pembroke Pines, Florida, recorded 27 points (4 goals, 23 assists) in 185 career NHL games (2023-23) (2022-23). 2022-23) and ducks (2016-17 to 2018-19).
A striking presence, the defender on the giant left shot stands at 6 feet-6 and 220 pounds.
“He had a really good (training) camp,” coach Paul Maurice said. “He’s really big. I think we wanted to see him when he left our camp.”
The Panthers currently need some help on the blue line. Currently, Aaron Ekblad (suspension) and Dmitry Klikov (upper body) do not have two top defensemen.
Don’t waste your time, Megna is expected to be in the lineup as the Panthers round out their backs in a fight against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scottia Bank Arena on Wednesday.
“We’re currently obsessed with the seventh and eighth defensive man — I think I’m the ninth defensive man — and we want to have a good idea of what he looks like in our group,” Maurice said. “He had a good year (in the AHL) so I felt like we left a game where we wanted to see some of the minors if we had to call them out in the playoffs and figure out how they would fit in.”
Megna last played in the NHL game on April 18, 2024 with Chicago.
