Kai Schwindt’s tryout with the Panthers was a successful one as prior to returning him to Mississauga of the OHL, the team announced that they signed the undrafted forward to a three-year, entry-level contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. GM Bill Zito released the following statement on the signing:
Kai is a competitive, high-effort individual who is able to use his size and skill effectively. We’re excited to welcome him and watch his continued development within our Panthers organization.
The 18-year-old made his OHL debut last season with the Steelheads after not playing due to the pandemic back in 2020-21. His production and role were somewhat limited as he only managed a dozen goals and five assists in 68 games plus two helpers in nine playoff contests. That resulted in Schwindt going undrafted but he has clearly made an impression through rookie camp and his preseason appearance against Nashville where he scored a goal. They believe that there is more to come and he should be in line for a more prominent role in junior this season.
As Schwindt is heading back to the OHL, he won’t be seeing any NHL action this season. That means that his contract for 2022-23 will slide a year and begin in 2023-24.