The Florida Panthers today have signed Finnish defender Petteri Lindbohm to a contract. Lindbohm was under contract with Jokerit of the KHL until that team withdrew from the KHL playoffs.
Lindbohm, 28, is a free agent, and no NHL team currently had his rights, although he did play a little for St. Louis at one time. Because he played in a league outside North America, he has to clear entry waivers. Once a staple of the NHL signing process, they now exist only for players signed in this way, which is why almost no players ever are signed as free agents after their European season is over.