Florida Panthers sign Jesper Boqvist to one-year contract

The defending Stanley Cup Champions continue to add assets this offseason.

On Monday, the Florida Panthers announced they have signed forward Jesper Boqvist to a one-year contract.

“Jesper is a skilled, dynamic forward with a strong skating ability,” general manager Bill Zito said in a release. “His addition adds to our depth for the upcoming season.”

It is Boqvist’s third team in three seasons. After four seasons with the New Jersey Devils, the team that took him in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft, he became a free agent after not receiving a qualifying off. The Falun, Sweden native signed a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins, splitting the 2023-24 campaign between Boston and its American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins. In 47 NHL games, Boqvist scored six goals and eight assists. With Providence, he notched 10 goals and 13 assists in 31 games.

The former Brynäs IF product played with Boston during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, picking up an assist in eight appearances as the Bruins advanced to the second round. However, the team lost to the Panthers in six games.

As the 25-year-old progressed through the Devils organization after making his North American pro debut during the 2019-20 season. He ended up playing 70 games with the Devils during the 2022-23 campaign, potting 10 goals and 11 assists, playing six games in the postseason.

In 236 NHL games, Boqvist has scored 34 goals and 35 assists. In the AHL, he has registered 22 goals and 27 assists in 65 appearances.

Prior to joining the NHL ranks, Boqvist made a name for himself while representing his country. He played for Sweden at the 2015 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, winning the silver medal both times.

With the signing, the Panthers have 40 players under standard player contracts for next season. According to CapFriendly, Florida has over $7.3 million in projected cap space.