Panthers sign Mikulas Hovorka to one-year contract
A big presence on the blue line has inked another deal.
On Tuesday, the Florida Panthers signed defenseman Mikulas Hovorka to a one-year, two-way contract. According to PuckPedia, the deal carries an NHL cap hit of $850,000, a minor-league salary of $100,000, and a guaranteed salary of $150,000 for the 2026-27 campaign.
Hovorka just came to the end of his two-year, entry-level contract. With that deal, he had an AAV of $950,000, with an American Hockey League cap hit of $83,000.
The 6-foot-6’s second season of pro hockey in North America was his most fruitful. He made his NHL debut on Feb. 5 against the rival Tampa Bay Lightning. The Praha, Czechia native ended up appearing in four games, posting an assist in the season finale against the Detroit Red Wings. He notched a plus/minus of -1 while averaging 14:55 of ice time.
The 25-year-old also played 57 games with the Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. He set career highs in goals (5), assists (13), points (18) and plus/minus (+23). He didn’t register a point in the Calder Cup Playoffs, as the Checkers were eliminated in the first round by the Springfield Thunderbirds.
It came after an eventful rookie season for Hovorka in Charlotte. Along with posting 10 points in 60 regular-season games, he scored five assists in the postseason, as the Checkers made it all the way to the Calder Cup Final, losing to the Abbotsford Canucks.
In 138 games in the AHL, regular-season and postseason combined, he has scored eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points.
Prior to moving to North America, Hovorka spent several years in the Czech professional ranks, playing for his hometown HC Slavia Praha, as well as Czech Extraliga squad HC Motor České Budějovice.
