Offseason Moves: John Beecher and Sam Lafferty

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Written by Cristiano Simonetta
As we gear up for the 2026-27 Checkers regular season, let’s take a quick look at some key acquisitions this offseason!
It's no secret the Checkers lost key pieces this offseason via trades and free agency, including forwards Ben Steeves, Wilmer Skoog, Jack Studnicka, and Nolan Foote.

To address this, the Florida Panthers agreed to terms with forwards John Beecher and Sam Lafferty on one-year, two-way contracts on July 1. The pair bring over 540 NHL games of experience, adding a mix of size and skill to the organization's depth.

Beecher began the 2025-26 campaign with the Boston Bruins, appearing in six games before being acquired via waivers by the Calgary Flames in November of 2025. Beecher suited up 29 times for Calgary, recording six points (two goals, four assists), along with 31 penalty minutes. The Elmira, NY, native has skated in 165 NHL games, logging 27 points (13 goals, 15 assists) and 81 PIMs.
Following a three-year tenure at the University of Michigan, Beecher turned pro with the Providence Bruins. In parts of three seasons in Providence, Beecher posted 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 87 games. Beyond his point production, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound center is strong on the dot, winning 51.7 percent of his face-offs at the NHL level. He isn’t afraid to stand up for his teammates, either, collecting six fights as a pro.

Lafferty played 29 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season, scoring a goal and adding an assist. He represented the United States at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, logging seven tournament appearances. The 31-year-old has completed 378 NHL games with the Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins, amassing 92 points (41 goals, 51 assists).
Before his NHL debut in 2019, Lafferty played 85 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, posting 55 points (17 goals, 38 assists). The Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, native was drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round (113th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound center attended Brown University for four seasons from 2014-15 to 2017-18, producing 79 points (29 goals, 50 assists) in 124 games with the Bears.

Lafferty and Beecher are sizeable, disruptive forwards who can play down the middle or jump on the wings, if necessary. They can eat up minutes on the penalty kill and push offense in the other direction. Charlotte prides itself on its ability to extinguish penalties, ranking third in the AHL last season (85.5 percent) and scoring ten times while shorthanded. If these two join the Checkers in 2026-27, they'll embody every facet of Charlotte's identity.