Florida Panthers Sign Promising Young Defenseman to New Deal

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The Florida Panthers are high on young defenseman Mikulas Hovorka.

On Wednesday, they signed the 25-year-old to a one-year, two-way contract for the upcoming season.

Hovorka has spent the past two seasons in the Panthers organization after Florida discovered him playing in the same pro league in Czechia that Uvis Balinskis was.

The 6-foot-6 righthanded shot spent his first North American pro season with the Charlotte Checkers, but Hovorka made his NHL debut with the Panthers last February and played four games with Florida.

“I got the call and then I couldn’t fall asleep, I was so excited to get here,’’ Hovorka said after making his debut against the Lightning before the Olympic break.

“It’s definitely a dream come true. I was thinking about all the hard work that went in to get here and I would like to thank everyone who helped me along the way.

“It was a long journey since I first hit the ice. I’m still a little overwhelmed by it.’’

The Panthers wanted to keep him in Charlotte to continue getting more big minutes and an expanded role with the Checkers.

Hovorka went from having three goals and 10 points in his first AHL season to five goals and 18 last year.

The Panthers currently have seven NHL defensemen coming to camp with Hovorka and Donovan Sebrango likely competing for the next open spot.

Florida could also bring in a veteran NHL defenseman on a PTO to add more competition for the final roster spots.

ON DECK: FLORIDA PANTHERS OFFSEASON​

• NHL Free Agency: Opened July 1
• Panthers Rookie Camp/Tournament: Late August/Early Sept.; Site TBA
• Panthers Training Camp: Early/Mid September; Fort Lauderdale
• Panthers Preseason (Four Games): Starts Sept. 20 vs. Carolina Hurricanes
• 2026-27 NHL Season Opener: Florida at Carolina Hurricanes; Sept. 29, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
• 2026-27 NHL Home Opener: Minnesota Wild at Florida; Oct. 10, 6 p.m. (Scripps)
• Full 2026-27 Florida Panthers Schedule

This article: Florida Panthers Sign Promising Young Defenseman to New Deal originally appeared on Florida Hockey Now.

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