The Florida Panthers announced their roster for their upcoming rookie camp/showcase on Thursday.
Of the 29 players who will make up Team Florida at the Rookie Showcase in Nashville later this month, only a couple truly have a chance of making the Panthers coming out of training camp.
One of those players is 6-foot-6 defenseman Mikulas Hovorka.
Now, the 23-year-old Hovorka will probably start his North American pro career with the AHL Charlotte Checkers for a number of reasons.
Two things are true for Florida: first, they have plenty of seasoned depth at the position, and second, the youngster can play in the minors without having to clear waivers. Finally, Florida wants to ensure that he takes his time and settles in.
Hovorka, a right-handed shooter with the ability to body up in the corners and make a great pass, is highly anticipated by the Panthers.
Hovorka was definitely different earlier this summer when he was in development camp.
Of course, his bulk helped.
Though still regarded as a rookie, he had already played in two seasons of professional hockey after being discovered in the Czech Extraliga, the same league in which Florida discovered Uvis Balinskis participating the previous season.
Balinskis made his NHL debut with the Florida Panthers last season after making the team out of training camp and, after spending time in Charlotte, ended it with the Panthers.
He did not play in the postseason but is expected to be one of the seven defensemen Florida carries into the new season.
“His passion to practice and to play is infectious,” Geordie Kinnear, Charlotte’s head coach, said of Hovorka.
“The coaches just gravitated to him due to his willingness to be coached. He may have been going against teammates and peers, but you could see his physicality, which is how we want him to play. We think he will take a big step. But we also know it is a process. But you can see he is having a blast out there.’’
And, Hovorka has had a blast since signing with the Panthers earlier this year.
Nursing a high ankle sprain, he flew to South Florida during the playoffs to get the team’s medical staff to take a look.
Not only did he get to go to a playoff game, he got to hang out at the IcePlex with guys who he will soon be sharing the ice with in Fort Lauderdale when camp opens on Sept. 19.
Hovorka, it should be noted, says he has been a Florida Panthers fan since he was 15.
“It is just amazing that they gave me the opportunity to sign with them,” he said.
“I met with Matthew Tkachuk, talked with a lot of guys. They were kind and very welcoming. I did not expect that. This was so good. I cannot say anything bad.”
Hovorka’s road to the Panthers will start on Sept. 13 when the team kicks off its annual Rookie Showcase with the Lightning, Predators and Hurricanes.
The Panthers appear to have their top-6 set with Balinskis, Matt Kiersted, Toby Bjornfot, Jaycob Megna and others fighting for that seventh spot.
That does not bode well for Hovorka.
Right now, anyway.
“My goal is to be as prepared as much as possible,’’ he said. “This is a great opportunity, of course.”
