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Panthers send Lawson Crouse back to junior

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports

The Florida Panthers have elected to send forward Lawson Crouse back to junior.

"It's never an easy decision, but we're thinking long term,'' general manager Dale Tallon said.

The club's first-round pick this year, 11th overall, was assigned to the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League, the Panthers announced.

Crouse spent the last two seasons with the Frontenacs. He put up 29 goals and 51 points in 56 games last season.

"I thought it would be more beneficial for him to play a lot of minutes and World Juniors instead of six minutes then sitting out," Tallon continued. "We talked about his performance in camp; he's close. We just wanted to play more with his peers, be the No. 1 guy on his team."

His demotion to junior should nearly guarantee another chance to represent Canada at the World Junior Championship this December.

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