The Panthers announced Monday they’ve recalled Jack Studnicka from AHL Charlotte. The center gives them an extra forward for the time being; they’ve been operating with an open roster spot for a while, despite Eetu Luostarinen being unavailable but still on the active roster.
Studnicka signed a two-way deal with Florida at the beginning of last offseason’s free agent signing period. Since the Bruins selected Studnicka in the second round of the 2017 draft, he’s encroached on journeyman status. After parts of four pro seasons in the Bruins system, he was traded to the Canucks early in 2022. The Sharks traded for him the following year, but non-tendered him at the end of 2023-24. He caught on with the Kings on a two-way deal for last season but never saw a call-up after clearing waivers and heading to the minors at the beginning of the year.
If Studnicka plays on this recall, it would be his first NHL action since April 2024. In 107 career appearances with Boston, Vancouver, and San Jose, he has a 6-10–16 scoring line, a -30 rating, and a 4.4% shooting percentage while averaging 11:29 of ice time per game.
At one point, Studnicka was one of Boston’s most intriguing prospects. He was an excellent offensive producer over his final two seasons in junior hockey after being drafted. In 126 OHL games across the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, he racked up 155 points and was ranked as the organization’s No. 1 prospect by The Athletic’s Corey Pronman heading into his first pro season in 2019-20. He kept up the momentum with 49 points in 60 games for AHL Providence, earning an All-Rookie Team nod, but never caught on to a full-time NHL role and hasn’t beaten that scoring line in the minors since, either. He did get close last year with the Ontario Reign in the Kings’ system, notching 16 goals and 45 points in 72 appearances.
An injury has limited Studnicka to eight appearances with Charlotte this season. He only just got back into the lineup after Thanksgiving, following a month-long absence. With a goal and six points, though, the Panthers evidently like what they see and will give him a crack at depth minutes in a shattered forward group missing Luostarinen, Aleksander Barkov, Jonah Gadjovich, Tomas Nosek, Cole Schwindt, and Matthew Tkachuk.
Heh, Jack Studnicka would have to up his game a good bit to make it to “journeyman” status … unless you mean a minor league journeyman.