The Florida Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, have signed forwards Riley Hughes and Philip Tresca to AHL contracts. Hughes returns to Charlotte after a varying career that includes ECHL play and aims to establish himself in the AHL following a year spent in the ECHL. Tresca, coming off a productive senior year at Harvard, hopes to start his professional career effectively, possibly beginning in the ECHL like Hughes.

By the Numbers
  • Riley Hughes scored 33 points in 57 ECHL games in 2025-26.
  • Philip Tresca scored 19 points in 30 games during his senior season at Harvard.
State of Play
  • Hughes is looking to secure a full-time AHL spot after a disappointing season without a call-up.
  • Tresca is aiming to make a strong impression as he begins his professional career.
What's Next

As the new season approaches, both players will aim to prove their capabilities, with Hughes prioritizing his AHL development and Tresca hoping to transition successfully to professional play.

Bottom Line

With fresh contracts signed, Hughes and Tresca face pivotal seasons ahead—Hughes must capitalize on his AHL opportunity to establish himself, while Tresca starts his journey into professional hockey with potential hurdles to navigate.