Former Kings Defenseman Tobias Bjornfot Hits NHL Waivers After Panthers Move

The Florida Panthers made headlines on Wednesday by becoming the only team active on the NHL waiver wire. They placed goaltender Louis Domingue on waivers after signing him to a new two-way contract. In addition, the Panthers also placed former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Tobias Bjornfot on waivers, making him available for any team looking to bolster their roster.

Bjornfot, 24, will be up for grabs for the next 24 hours. Should no team claim him, he will be assigned to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, the Panthers’ American League affiliate. This could open the door for a potential return to the Kings, who lost the blueliner to the Vegas Golden Knights on waivers during the 2023-24 season. The Panthers later claimed him off waivers that same season.

Selected 22nd overall in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Bjornfot spent parts of five seasons with the Kings, appearing in 117 games and registering one goal along with 15 points from the blue line. His most productive season came during the 2021-22 campaign, where he played 70 games and recorded eight assists, setting career-highs in both appearances and points.

That year, he averaged 16:46 of ice time per game but finished with a minus-12 plus-minus rating. Since that standout season, his appearances have dwindled, with Bjornfot not playing more than 14 regular-season games in any season since. This year, he has participated in 11 games for the Panthers, tallying two goals and three points while averaging 11:33 of ice time and posting a plus-four rating.

For most of the past two years, Bjornfot has predominantly played in the minors. Over the last two seasons, the six-foot defenseman has suited up for 72 games with the Checkers, including 22 this season, where he has contributed one goal and seven points along with a plus-six rating. His performance in the Calder Cup playoffs last season was particularly impressive, as he netted two goals and seven points in 14 postseason games, helping his team reach the finals before falling to the Abbotsford Canucks, who claimed the Calder Cup title.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.