Charlotte's Next Wave: Developing the Future of the Florida Panthers

The path to the NHL isn’t straight. There are many different routes to get there, but most players must go through a process of learning a new system, adjusting to the professional game, and learning to handle more responsibility on the ice.

For the Charlotte Checkers? That process has become ingrained in their identity.

The Charlotte Checkers are the American Hockey League affiliate of the Florida Panthers. The Panthers use the Checkers to develop their young talent in an effort to have them ready to join the NHL team when the time comes.

Winning matters to the Checkers, but also preparing their young players for NHL opportunities with the Panthers in Sunrise, FL.

More Than Individual Development

For young players, transitioning from junior to college to pro hockey is difficult. It’s faster, the competition is bigger, and even the smallest mistakes are exposed. Scoring goals is not enough to get to the next level. Defensive responsibility, consistency, and attention to detail are key to earning a promotion.

While each of the three young prospects has different goals for their development in the AHL, for the most part, they are trying to gain confidence as young players in the professional game, while continuing to develop their skills and improve other areas of their game.

Gracyn Sawchyn, for example, is a young forward with offensive instincts and a competitive nature. While those are good starting points, Sawchyn needs to learn to use his strengths within the Checkers’ system.

Young defenseman Marek Alscher is learning a different position on the ice and must be patient while making decisions on the ice. He must read the play and continue to develop his game while becoming more comfortable with his role as a professional defenseman.

Hunter St. Martin is continuing to learn the professional game and find consistency with the Panthers organization.

While each player on the list is at a different stage in their development, the goal remains the same for each of them: to become a complete hockey player.

Building the Right Environment

In order to develop players, organizations need to create an environment where players can grow and learn from their mistakes. Geordie Kinnear, the Checkers’ Head Coach, has been with the organization for years and has established a certain standard that players must meet in order to advance within the organization.

The Checkers have a roster that can change from day to day with NHL recalls, injuries, and other roster moves. This means that players must be ready to step into any role at any time. For young players, this can be difficult but also very valuable for their development.

A prospect might start the season in a limited role and then be asked to play more as the season goes along. Another player might be asked to play in a different role than he is used to.

The ability to stay and remain prepared, regardless of their role, will separate players who are simply talented from those who are ready for the next level.

The Importance of Veteran Leadership

Young prospects are the future of the organization, but the veteran players are also very important to the development of the young players on the team. The veteran players not only help on the ice but also in the locker room, establishing expectations, helping the young players prepare for games, and sharing their experiences with the team during tough times of the season.

The AHL is an unpredictable league with players constantly fighting for playing time. Players are often recalled to the NHL or sent down to the AHL. Veterans on the team understand what these players are going through because they have been through it before. They can help the younger players understand that development is not always a straight line and that there will be ups and downs along the way.

The Road to Sunrise

The success of the Checkers is measured by how many of the Panthers’ prospects are sent to Charlotte. The success of the Checkers is also measured by how many of those players are ready to play for the Panthers in the NHL when they are called up. Florida’s development pipeline depends on players who are ready to step into more demanding roles at a moment’s notice.

Every practice, every game, and every opportunity to take on more responsibility is another step on the road to Sunrise for the Checkers’ young players, including Sawchyn, Alscher, and St. Martin.  The road to Sunrise is a balancing act that the AHL has been managing for many years.