Florida Panthers Recall Ten Players
4:00 PM: The Panthers have officially announced the recalls, and added one name that wasn’t included in Richards’ report: goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick, 25, is a 2016 second-round pick who played in 17 games with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and posted an 11-3-1 record and .921 save percentage in those games. Fitzpatrick saw action in one AHL game this season, stopping 23 of 25 shots in an April 1st overtime loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds. With Guzda, Lyon, and Bobrovsky ahead of him on the depth chart something would have to go quite wrong for him to see time in these playoffs, so this recall is more about adding some depth to the team than anything else.
10:37 AM: The Florida Panthers have brought up their complement of Black Aces for the remainder of the playoffs today ahead of Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Per Florida Hockey Now’s George Richards, the following players have been brought up from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers:
F Connor Bunnaman
F Grigori Denisenko
F Patrick Giles
F Aleksi Heponiemi
D Lucas Carlsson
D Matt Kiersted
D Santtu Kinnunen
D John Ludvig
D Calle Själin
G Mack Guzda
The recalls come after the Hershey Bears eliminated Charlotte from the Calder Cup Playoffs on May 4, taking their Atlantic Division semifinal series by a count of 3-1.
The two most intriguing names on this list are Denisenko and Heponiemi, both previously highly-touted prospects that have yet to make a notable NHL impact. Denisenko struggled in the minors this year and posted no points and a -1 rating in four playoff games for Charlotte. The 24-year-old Heponiemi, however, led the team with seven points in seven playoff games.
One name that Panthers fans will definitely recognize is Carlsson, who dropped back into an AHL role this season after appearing in 40 games for Florida during 2021-22. Carlsson was one of the best defenders in the AHL this season, recording 54 points in 61 games along with a +24 rating. He’s one of the more dependable recall options for Florida should injuries pop up among their defensemen.
The 24-year-old Kinnunen is also a name to watch for in the coming years. A seventh-round pick of the Panthers in 2018, Kinnunen broke out for 35 points in 69 regular-season games and six points in seven playoff games for Charlotte during his first season in North America.
Panthers Send Lucas Carlsson To Minors
Recently being recalled by the Florida Panthers ahead of their Game Four loss to the Boston Bruins, defenseman Lucas Carlsson will be sent back down to the AHL. As defenseman Aaron Ekblad finds his way back into the lineup after missing Game Three, the Panthers have announced they have loaned Carlsson to their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers.
Carlsson played in about half of all the Panthers games last season but has spent the majority of this season playing for the Checkers, as he has only suited up for the Panthers twice in the regular season. In 61 games in Charlotte, Carlsson put together quite an outstanding season in the AHL, scoring 20 goals and tallying 34 assists. During the Checkers opening round matchup in the Calder Cup playoffs, Carlsson scored four points in three games.
Likely being included on the Game Four roster due to injuries, the team has decided his talent is better spent helping Charlotte on their quest for the Calder Cup. In their first-round matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Charlotte was able to move past them in three games. As they now look towards the Atlantic Division Semifinals, Charlotte will take on the second-place Hershey Bears.
Skyler Brind’Amour Signs AHL Contract
After telling the Edmonton Oilers that he wasn’t signing with them and instead joining the Charlotte Checkers on a professional tryout, Skyler Brind’Amour has committed to playing in North Carolina next season. The recent NCAA champion has signed a two-year AHL contract that begins in 2023-24.
Brind’Amour, 23, was initially selected in the sixth round by the Oilers, but after spending two years in the BCHL and then another four with Quinnipiac University, he won’t join the team that drafted him. He would have become an unrestricted free agent in August, but Edmonton likely gave him free rein to seek another option, resulting in his trip to Charlotte.
The gig has geographical perks, as his father—Rod Brind’Amour—coaches the Carolina Hurricanes just across the state. The Checkers, a long-time affiliate of the Hurricanes, switched their partnership to the Florida Panthers a few seasons ago.
Brind’Amour scored 14 goals and 32 points in 41 games this season and is known for his never-ending work ethic more than anything else. The checking center still has a long road ahead of him if he’s to crack an NHL roster.
Skyler Brind’Amour Signs PTO With Charlotte Checkers
PHR reported earlier this week that Skyler Brind’Amour would not be putting pen to paper with the Edmonton Oilers and now the 23-year-old has signed a professional tryout with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. Skyler, the son of Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour, just wrapped up his fourth college season at Quinnipiac where he posted 14 goals and 32 points in 41 games.
The Oilers 2017 sixth round pick will join Charlotte for their first-round playoff battle with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and begins his professional hockey career at the age of 23. Brind’Amour has ties to the area through his father, and was also born in nearby Raleigh. Now he will get to jump straight into the playoffs after finishing his college career.
Brind’Amour’s draft rights to the Oilers will expire in August at which time Brind’Amour will be a free agent and can sign with anyone he pleases. He will get an opportunity to showcase his skills in the coming weeks. Brind’Amour hasn’t been much of a scorer at any level and topped out at 14 goals this season, the highest total of any of his college seasons. He figures to get an opportunity to insert some energy into Charlotte’s bottom six as he auditions for a job next season. Charlotte figures to be the favorite in their series against the Phantoms as they finished third in the Atlantic Division and Lehigh Valley finished sixth.