The Florida Panthers have assigned defenseman Mikulas Hovorka to the Charlotte Checkers.
Hovorka, 24, made his NHL debut on Thursday night, playing 11:27 of ice time for the Panthers. against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Prague, CZE, native has recorded two goals and eight assists in 30 games this season with Charlotte.
Hovorka is the third Checkers player to make his NHL debut with the Panthers in 2025-26 after appearing in a game for Charlotte this season, joining forwards Sandis Vilmanis and Jack Devine.
The Florida Panthers have recalled defenseman Mikulas Hovorka from the Charlotte Checkers.
Hovorka, 24, has recorded two goals and eight assists in 30 games this season with Charlotte. The Prague, CZE, native is in the middle of his second AHL campaign with the Checkers, totalling 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 90 career appearances.
Before joining the Checkers, he played two years with Motor České Budějovice in the Czech Extraliga from 2022-24, the highest-level hockey league in the Czech Republic. Hovorka signed a two-year NHL contract with the Panthers in April of 2024; he is yet to make his NHL debut.
The American Hockey League announced today Checkers forward Ben Steeves will replace defenseman Tobias Bjornfot in the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic.
Steeves, 23, has registered 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists) in 42 games this season with Charlotte. The Bedford, NH, native is tied for the club lead in goals with Wilmer Skoog and tied for first in points among Checkers players with fellow All-Star Jack Devine. Steeves is in the midst of his second full professional season in Charlotte. He led all Checkers rookies in points during the 2024-25 season with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 60 games.
Before joining the Checkers, Steeves played two seasons at the University of Minnesota Duluth, skating in 72 games and logging 62 points (45 goals, 17 assists). As a member of the Bulldogs, Steeves earned NCHC Second All-Star Team honors in 2023-24 and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team in 2022-23.
The Florida Panthers recalled Bjornfot on January 4. The 24-year-old has appeared in nine games in the NHL this season, recording three points (two goals, one assist).
The 2026 AHL All-Star Classic, presented by BMO, will take place in Rockford, IL, and includes the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Tuesday, February 10, followed by the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, February 11, and the 2026 AHL All-Star Challenge that evening.
