The Florida Panthers have had quite a few of their youngsters get their first taste of the NHL and, tonight in Ottawa, may have a fifth take that solo lap before making their debut.

With Dmitry Kulikov out for the third time this season after breaking a finger on Tuesday, the Panthers called up Mikulas Hovorka on Wednesday.

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Hovorka, you may remember, made his NHL debut with the Panthers on Feb. 8 in Tampa and has since played in three games.

But the Panthers called up a second d-man as well.

Ludvig Jansson, a 22-year-old who was a fourth-round draft pick by the Panthers in 2022, could make his NHL debut tonight after being called up from AHL Charlotte.

If he were to play, Jansson would join Sandis Vilmanis, Mike Benning, Jack Devine, and Hovorka in making their NHL debut with the Panthers this season.

With four games left, perhaps more are coming.

Aside from Kulikov, everyone finished Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens so, right now, it is not known who would sit to allow Jansson to play.

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It might be Jansson replacing Kulikov in the lineup and not Hovorka, or, coach Paul Maurice has plans to sit someone else — perhaps a veteran such as Gus Forsling or Seth Jones.

Jansson is in his first North American pro season, scoring three goals with 10 points in 29 games for the Checkers.

ON DECK: GAME No. 79FLORIDA PANTHERS at OTTAWA SENATORS

Where: Canada Tire Center, Ottawa

Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM

Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App

Last Season: Senators won 2-1

Up Next for the Panthers: Saturday at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7

This article: Another NHL Debut? Florida Panthers Call Up Rookie Defenseman originally appeared on Florida Hockey Now.