Ahead of their home game against the Kings tonight, the Panthers have recalled Grigori Denisenko, Cole Schwindt, Matt Kiersted and Chase Priskie from Charlotte.
Denisenko, 21, ranks fourth on the Checkers in scoring this season with 16 points (7g, 9a) in 25 games. This marks the first recall of the season for the Russian forward, who made his NHL debut last season as a rookie and posted four assists in seven games for the Panthers, along with nine (5g, 4a) in 15 AHL games with the Syracuse Crunch. Prior to making the jump to North America, Denisenko - who was taken 15th overall by Florida in the 2018 draft - logged 18 points (10g, 8a) in 63 KHL games over two seasons with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv.
Schwindt, 20, is tied for the team lead and tied for third among all AHL rookies in goals (9) and ranks third on Charlotte in points with 17 in 25 games. A third-round pick in 2019, he posted two points (1g, 1a) in 10 games last season for the Crunch - his first taste of the pro game after the cancellation of the OHL season. As a member of the Mississauga Steelheads, Schwindt logged 138 points (55g, 83a) in 191 games over three OHL seasons.
Kiersted, 23, is tied for third among Charlotte blue liners with 10 points (2g, 8a) in 21 games. The undrafted defenseman has bounced between the AHL and NHL multiple times this season, appearing in four games for the Panthers and recording his first NHL point. Kiersted posted 77 points (20g, 57a) in 127 games over four seasons at the University of North Dakota, then made the jump to Florida at the conclusion of his senior year, logging seven games with the Panthers in 2020-21.
Priskie, 25, ranks second among Charlotte defensemen in scoring with 11 points (2g, 9a) in 20 games. The third-year pro has notched 53 points (13g, 40a) in 92 career AHL games and made his NHL debut earlier this season for his hometown Panthers.
The Panthers host the Kings tonight before heading out for road contests in Minnesota on Saturday and Chicago on Tuesday.
