The Florida Panthers have signed free-agent defenceman Matt Kiersted to a two-year entry-level deal. The contract will see him in Florida until the 2021-22 season.
Inked!
We have agreed to terms with defenseman Matt Kiersted on a two-year, entry-level contract.
📝 » https://t.co/jhlY0jxQmR pic.twitter.com/Rmt25l0bSI
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) April 1, 2021
Matt Kiersted Signs With Florida Panthers
Kiersted spent the last four years with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks of the NCAA and was considered the top NCAA free-agent target. He played 127 games for North Dakota with 23 goals, 57 assists with 123 penalty minutes. He also had a plus/minus of +37 over his NCAA career. This past season, the 22-year-old native of Elk River Minnesota put up 22 points in 29 games. The Fighting Hawks were eliminated in the NCAA quarterfinals by Minnesota-Duluth on March 27th by a score of 3-2. The game was decided in the FIFTH overtime period.
A six-foot-tall, 185-pound blueliner, Matt Kiersted is an elite skater according to central scouting and has an exceptional first pass out of the defensive zone. He was passed over in his initial draft year (2016) when he played in the USHL with the Chicago Steel. A knee injury hampered his final year in Chicago before he joined the University of North Dakota.
Due to COVID-19, the NCAA is allowing players to return for a fifth season if they feel they are unable to secure an NHL or AHL deal. Kiersted did not need to go this route as one of the coveted prizes of the NCAA free-agent period. It should make for a bit of a more intriguing signing period though, as players do have options going forward.
Future With The Panthers
The Florida Panthers currently sit tied for first in the NHL Central Division with a 23-9-4 record. They lost star defenceman Aaron Ekblad in March to a broken leg. This will likely sideline him for the rest of the season and playoffs. Kiersted adds organizational depth on defence with a shot to make the NHL roster or taxi squad with strong play.
