Florida Panthers AHL affiliate Checkers send two to the All-Star Classic

The Checkers announced Thursday that Bjornfot and Devine were named the club's representatives for the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic. It's a nice nod for a farm team that keeps feeding Florida options when the big club gets squeezed.

Bjornfot's selection makes sense if you've watched Charlotte settle into games lately. The 24-year-old defenseman is not flashy, but he moves pucks cleanly, closes gaps early, and he's sitting at seven points in 22 games.

Devine is the head-turner for fans who love production with a little bite. HockeyDB has him at 11 goals and 24 points in 29 games, and that mix of finishing and edge is why his name keeps popping up in call-up conversations.

As a fan, it's hard not to grin at this, because it feels like Florida finally has a pipeline that can survive a few injuries without panicking.

There's also a bigger team story underneath the individual honors. StatsCrew lists Charlotte at 20-12-2 for 42 points, third in the Atlantic Division, which matters because winning habits in the AHL usually translate into calmer NHL depth later.

The All-Star trip itself is a cool stage. Rockford hosts the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic at the BMO Center, with events running Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 10-11, including the Skills Competition and the 3-on-3 All-Star Challenge.

Bjornfot arrives there with first-round pedigree, drafted 22nd overall in 2019 by the Los Angeles Kings, and he's played real NHL games already, so he looks comfortable in bigger moments. Devine's path is more underdog, a seventh-round pick by Florida in 2022, turning college success into pro offense quickly.

For the Panthers, this is the type of news that matters in January. The NHL roster can be a revolving door when injuries hit, and having two guys in Charlotte earning league-wide recognition is insurance you can actually feel.

Now the next milestone is simple, keep stacking good AHL minutes, because the call can come fast, and Florida never stays healthy forever.