Jonah Gadjovich could see an expanded role with the Florida Panthers…
It’s been an eventful year for Jonah Gadjovich and the Florida Panthers. Last July, Gadjovich, recovering from an injury sustained in the previous season, signed an AHL deal with the Charlotte Checkers. Less than a year later, he not only joined the Panthers but also secured a contract with the team through 2026.
Gadjovich is now a Stanley Cup champion and the proud father of twins. After Florida’s 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Final, Jonah and his wife Allison placed their newborns in the bowl of the Stanley Cup during the celebration.
“This is what we all play for,” Gadjovich remarked during the Stanley Cup Final. “It has been a long year, a hard year, and we have faced a lot of adversity. But we made it here.”
Despite only playing in 39 games with the Panthers and not appearing in the postseason, Gadjovich’s name is now engraved on the Stanley Cup. The Panthers successfully appealed to the NHL to have his name included despite him not meeting the 41-game threshold, due to the injuries that kept him out of the lineup for significant parts of the season.
Gadjovich’s integration into the team was evident when Niko Mikkola gave him the ceremonial puck to plant on their victory board after a Game 5 win. “I am very grateful,” Gadjovich said. “My wife is healthy, my babies are healthy and I love them so much. … It was really special. Made me feel real good, made me feel like I was really part of the group. It goes to show how tight we are here. We are brothers here, and I really mean that. That’s a reason why we have had success.’’
Looking ahead to this season, Gadjovich is expected to have an increased role with the Panthers. After signing his initial AHL contract, Gadjovich wasn’t healthy enough for training camp and instead rehabbed with Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad. His dedication led the Panthers to sign him to a one-year NHL deal, which was later extended by two years in March.
Florida’s fourth line will look different next season, with Gadjovich likely playing a prominent role alongside new additions Tomas Nosek, Jesper Boqvist, and A.J. Greer, who replace Kevin Stenlund, Ryan Lomberg, Steven Lorentz, and Kyle Okposo.
“He certainly knows the system and knows just how to play it,” said coach Paul Maurice. “For a physical role player, he is exceptionally clean. Both hands on the ice, he hits hard, but he gets low, he’s a very, very clean player, and he’s willing. And that makes everybody else relax.”
“We play an aggressive, physical style, and sometimes our games get heated. A lot of times, it’s not us, right? But we’re going to come out, we’re going to finish our checks, and they know it going out, so they get wired up for that kind of game, and it gets hot. And it’s good to have Gadjovich there because he can handle it.”
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