The Florida Panthers added a former first-round-type of name to their mix on the opening day of NHL free agency, signing forward Johnny Beecher to a one-year, two-way contract.
The deal gives Beecher an NHL cap hit of $850,000, a minor-league salary of $525,000 and a guaranteed salary of $575,000 through the 2026-27 season.
Beecher arrives in Florida after becoming an unrestricted free agent when the Calgary Flames did not tender him a qualifying offer by Monday evening’s deadline. He was coming off a one-year deal with the Boston Bruins that carried a cap hit of $900,000.
His 2025-26 season was a winding one. Beecher opened the year with Boston, but after six games he was placed on waivers in November.
Calgary claimed the Elmira, N.Y. native, and he spent the rest of the season there. The Flames expected him to get more opportunity on a team that was struggling, but injuries and a suspension cut into his run and limited him to 29 games in Calgary.
He finished with two goals and four assists for six points, a minus-5 rating and 10:26 of ice time per game. Across 35 total games, Beecher had three goals and seven points, with a minus-6 mark and 10:25 average TOI.
That was a noticeable step back for Beecher after he had been a regular for Boston in each of the previous two seasons. In 2024-25, he put up 11 points in 78 games for the Bruins.
With Florida, Beecher could slot into a bottom-six role, though he is also likely to spend time in the American Hockey League.
In 165 regular-season NHL games, Beecher has 13 goals and 28 points, and he has added two points in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Boston. He also has 16 goals and 37 points in 93 AHL games.
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