Checking with the Checkers: Carlsson’s NHL call-up, strong rookie debut and some history
When Lucas Carlsson got called up to the NHL earlier this week — validating his three-assist weekend that helped lift the Charlotte Checkers to a 2-0 start on the season — coach Geordie Kinnear didn’t use it as a lesson in work ethic.
He didn’t have to.
Opportunity abounds in this year’s uniquely talented American Hockey League, and the Charlotte players have known for a while that they could be called up to play for the Florida Panthers, their NHL affiliate, at any moment.
They just have to be ready.
“I think when you see someone actually go through it, then you know that there’s some credibility behind it,” said Kinnear, who’s in his third year as head coach of the Charlotte-based AHL team. “This is actually the situation. And he gets called up because he had played well. I don’t have to say it because it actually happened, so it’s a good reminder for the guys.”
Kinnear added: “It’s something that Florida’s talked about, that we’ve talked about. And regardless, you always want to be ready, and you always want to be playing at a high level, maximizing your skill set, so when opportunities do arise, whether it’s in Florida or somewhere else, that you’re ready to go.”
The Florida Panthers defeated the Philadephia Flyers, 4-3, in their home-opener on Wednesday night, and Carlsson was in the lineup. The defenseman joined the Panthers after star defenseman Aaron Ekblad exited the team’s 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins with a lower-body injury.
Placing Ekblad on the team’s long-term injured reserve list reportedly provided Florida $7.5 million in cap relief — something that the Panthers and other teams around the league are struggling with — and it ultimately paved the way for Carlsson’s call-up.
Matt Kiersted, another defenseman who started on Florida’s non-roster list, was also technically called up.
5 other Charlotte Checker notes
▪ Some modest team history: Charlotte defeated Hartford on Friday, 4-3 in overtime, and then again, 3-1, at home at Bojangles Coliseum. This is the first time that the Checkers have opened with back-to-back wins since the 2018-19 season. That year? The Checkers won the Calder Cup championship, the league’s top team prize.
▪ Home-opening attendance: Both of the Checkers’ home games eclipsed the 7,000-mark for attendance. Per the team: 7,272 people saw the win on Friday, and 7,118 saw the win Saturday. (For reference, that’s relatively competitive with the Charlotte Knights, the city’s minor league baseball team that plays in Uptown. According to a report in the Charlotte Business Journal, Knight games averaged about 8,500 fans — a 31% rise from the year before.)
▪ Anton Levtchi plays great in Charlotte weekend debut: Levtchi, a Finnish-born forward, scored twice in the team’s season-opener, including the game-winner in overtime. He’s playing his first season of pro hockey in North America following five years in Europe.
Said Kinnear: “I saw a player who wanted the puck, wanted to make plays in tight areas, and who has a lot of fun scoring some goals. Had a smile on his face after scoring the goals. It’s not easy coming over here from being in Finland. You know, new team, new language, new coaches, new environment, new city. So I was impressed with him. ... You know he has the skill. I just was impressed that it didn’t take him any time at all to show the coaches what kind of ability he has.”
▪ Riley Nash, consistent as ever: The 33-year-old center has 627 NHL games to his name, and he proved solid this past weekend. Nash notched two assists and one goal. Kinnear said he noticed chemistry between Nash, the grizzled vet, and Levtchi, the bright-eyed rookie.
“To be honest, he came down here early in training camp when we had a lot of numbers, but his competitiveness still for where he’s at in his career is contagious,” Kinnear said. “And then I think he worked extremely hard all training camp. Obviously he’s a leader for a reason, and it translated into a good start for him being back where he originally started his career.”
▪ Tough test this weekend: The Checkers will welcome the Hershey Bears to Bojangles Coliseum on Friday at 7 p.m., and then Saturday at 6 p.m. Kinnear called the Bears “the best team on paper” that his team will see. Friday is “Haunted Night” at Bojangles Coliseum (aka wear your Halloween costume), and on Saturday fans have the chance to purchase the Oktoberfest ticket package, which includes a collectible themed pint glass.
This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Checking with the Checkers: Carlsson’s NHL call-up, strong rookie debut and some history."
