SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers have recalled defenseman Steven Kampfer from the American Hockey League’s San Antonio Rampage, the team announced Thursday.

"He played real well down there," Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant said after Thursday’s morning skate at the BB&T Center. "He’s getting a chance to come up and play. He skates well, so we’re looking forward to seeing him play tonight."

Kampfer, 26, has appeared in 42 games this season for San Antonio and currently leads all Rampage defensemen in scoring with eight goals and 19 points.

A fourth-round pick, 93rd overall, of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2007 NHL Draft, he has registered seven goals and 15 points in 61 career NHL games split between the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild.

"I think anytime you get called up it’s an exciting time," said Kampfer, a former four-year starter at the University of Michigan. "I’m just happy to be here and help contribute and keep making a push here."

Kampfer, who last played in the NHL on March 31, 2012 as a member of the Wild, was acquired by Florida on Oct. 6, 2013 from the New York Rangers with forward Andrew Yogan in exchange for forward Joey Crabb.

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Kampfer will be make his Panthers debut on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings in place of team captain Willie Mitchell, who suffered an upper-body injury during Florida’s 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

"He’s basically day-to-day," Gallant said of Mitchell. "He got hit last game and it’s upper body."

Mitchell, 37, has registered two goals and five points in 49 games with Florida this season.

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