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Florida Panthers: Four Prospects that Could Make the Roster Soon

ByCal Friedman|
LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 20: Look on Springfield Thunderbirds forward Henrik Borgstrom (5) at warm-up before the Springfield Thunderbirds versus the Laval Rocket game on October 20, 2018, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 20: Look on Springfield Thunderbirds forward Henrik Borgstrom (5) at warm-up before the Springfield Thunderbirds versus the Laval Rocket game on October 20, 2018, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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#1: Henrik Borgström (C-LW)

MONTREAL, QC – SEPTEMBER 19: Florida Panthers center Henrik Borgstrom (95) skates during the third period of the NHL preseason game between the New Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens on September 19, 2018, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – SEPTEMBER 19: Florida Panthers center Henrik Borgstrom (95) skates during the third period of the NHL preseason game between the New Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens on September 19, 2018, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The decision to start 2016 first-round draft pick Henrik Borgström turned a lot of heads in September after the forward seemed to have a spot on the Panthers’ third line all but locked up.

Borgstrom played the last four games of the 2017-18 season and was on the Panthers’ roster for the entire preseason, yet started this year’s regular season in Springfield.

Whether that decision was right or not is still up in the air, but Borgström’s play at the AHL level suggests he is ready for the NHL.

Borgstrom has scored four times in eight AHL games, all coming from even strength. He’s also chimed in with seven assists, putting him at a 1.38 point per game average. The young Finn has also yet to take a penalty this season, making him one of two skaters (Patrik Bajkov and Thomas Schemitsch) yet to do so.

Henrik has excelled for his team and has shown a serious determination to wearing the Panthers red sooner rather than later. Borgström is diverse and could fit in playing down the middle, replacing Juho Lammikko, or on the left for Frank Vatrano or Maxim Mamin.

He’s looked the busiest early on, but the question remains: will the Cats call him up when needed?

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