BREAKING: Panthers recall 32-year-old defenseman from AHL

The Florida Panthers called up defenseman from the AHL on Wednesday, sending Tobias Bjornfot to Charlotte in a corresponding move.

Megna, who signed a one-year, two-way contract with Florida in July as a free agent, has been a reliable presence in the AHL this season, recording 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) and a +23 rating over 64 games with the Charlotte Checkers.

Originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the seventh round (210th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Pembroke Pines, Florida, native has amassed 27 points (four goals, 23 assists) in 185 NHL games, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks (2023-24), Seattle Kraken (2022-23), San Jose Sharks (2021-22 to 2022-23), and Ducks (2016-17 to 2018-19).

Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 220 pounds, Megna brings size and a physical presence to the blue line.

“He had a real good [training] camp,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “He’s a real big body. I think when he left our camp, we thought that we’d kind of like to take a look at him.”

With top defensemen Aaron Ekblad (suspension) and Dmitry Kulikov (upper-body injury) unavailable, the Panthers needed reinforcements on defense. Megna is expected to be in the lineup when Florida faces the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.

“We’re into our seventh and eighth defenseman now— I guess ninth defenseman — and we want to have a good idea of what he looks like in our group,” Maurice added.

“He’s had a good year [in the AHL], so we felt with the games left we wanted to take a look at some people in the minors to figure out how they would fit if we have to call on them in the playoffs.”

Megna last appeared in an NHL game on April 18, 2024, with Chicago.