Florida Panthers sign Marek Alscher to entry-level contract

Colton Davies
Mar 13, 2023, 12:25 EDTUpdated: Mar 13, 2023, 12:27 EDT
Florida Panthers sign Marek Alscher to entry-level contract
Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

The Florida Panthers have signed Marek Alscher to a three-year entry-level contract worth $2.85 million. The agreement holds an average annual value of $950,000 and begins in the 2023-24 season. According to CapFriendly, he will make $82,500 in the minor leagues with the Charlotte Checkers.

Alscher was selected in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Panthers. The 18-year-old currently plays for the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League. This season he has tallied 21 pounds (seven goals, 14 assists) in 54 games to go along with 63 penalty minutes, ranking fourth among Winterhawks defenders. Last season during his WHL rookie campaign, he recorded seven goals and nine assists in 61 games. 

The 6-foot-3 left-shot defenseman was selected by the Winterhawks 26th overall in the 2021 CHL Import Draft.  Previously, he had spent time in both Czechia and Finland. Alscher played his U16 hockey with Rytiri Kladno and in 2018-19 he tallied 43 points in 38 games ranking fourth in the Czech under-16 league. He then took off to Finland and played two seasons with Lahti Pelicans. During the 2021-22 season, he also represented Czechia at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament picking up one assist in four games. 

Alscher was the Panthers’ first selection in last year’s draft. It is likely that Alscher will return to the Winterhawks for the 2023-24 WHL season so he can further this development and solidify himself as a legitimate blue-line option for the Panthers’ future. According to EliteProspects.com Alcher ranks fifth in the Panthers system for defensive prospects, trailing Carter Berger, Santtu Kinnunen, Evan Nause, Michael Benning and Lucas Carlsso.n

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