Panthers Re-Sign RFA To Multi-Year Contract

After a strong season with the Florida Panthers' AHL affiliate in Charlotte, restricted free agent defenseman John Ludvig has been re-signed to a two-year deal.

We have agreed to terms with defenseman John Ludvig on a two-year, two-way contract.

📝 » https://t.co/ggpG6Hm3UJ pic.twitter.com/HzNfrU8Iry

— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) July 17, 2023

It's a two-way contract for the 22-year-old blueliner, who was extended a qualifying offer last month after his impressive year in the AHL. He'll become a restricted free agent again at the end of the deal and will be eligible for arbitration at that point. 

Ludvig, a left-shot defenseman, recorded the second-best plus-minus on the Charlotte Checkers this past year, at +18. He was also a prime penalty-killer for the club. 

Ludvig, a Czech-Canadian, was a third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and the Panthers are hoping that he could challenge for a 6th or 7th D-man role at least by 2024-25, the second year of this contract. 

The 6'1", 213-pounder played his junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL and was the team's captain in his final year there in 2019-20. 

Photo: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports