Sunrise, Fla. — The Florida Panthers recall Charlotte Checker’s defensive mantle, Tobias Bjornfot, on Tuesday, as they lack two important pieces in the blue line.
Without Aaron Ekblad, already a top pair defenseman, the Panthers would have died of veteran Dmitry Klikov from an upper body injury Sunday in defeat by a New York Islander.
An update on Kulikov’s status is expected to follow Wednesday’s practice.
Although there were no strangers in South Florida, Bjornfot has appeared in nine games with the Panthers over the past two seasons, with the team on last year’s run to the Stanley Cup.
Wearing a suit in eight games against the Panthers this season, Bjornfot took ice in the NHL in a 2-1 loss in Los Angeles on January 22, scoring two hits at 10:47 ice time.
The Panthers, who produced strong baseline numbers, took the lead this season with a predicted goal of 126-66, 6.15-2.37 on shot attempts when Bjornfot was rolled out.
Originally filmed in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Kings, who won’t be 24 until April, they appeared in 128 games in parts of the NHL six seasons.
In 43 AHL games at Charlotte this season, the 6-foot, 200-pound Swedes have 16 points (two goals, 14 assists).
“I bouncing off a bit last year, but I think it helped my game,” Bjornfot said when asked about his game’s progress since joining the Panthers in January. “I learned a lot of new things. I saw a lot of hockey last year, and I think that helped.”
The Panthers, who lead the Atlantic division 41-24-3, will rejoin a six-game road trip at the National Arena on Thursday in a matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
