The Flyers have signed Forward Alex Ciernik to a three-year entry-level contract (ELC). This news broke today (March 23, 2026), with the deal starting in the 2026-27 season.Ciernik, a Slovak-born winger (born October 8, 2004, in Wolfsburg, Germany), was originally selected by the Flyers in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He’s the son of former NHL player Ivan Ciernik. He has been a Flyers prospect but took a winding path.
- He briefly joined the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms on an amateur tryout (ATO) contract late in the 2024-25 season.
- He then opted not to sign his ELC at that time and played overseas, splitting time in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan (with Nybro Vikings IF) and Finland’s Liiga (with Lahti Pelicans) during the 2025-26 season.
Now, at age 21, he’s committed to the organization with this signing. Ciernik’s described as an explosive, speedy offensive forward (5’10, 179 lbs, shoots left) who could develop into a solid NHL contributor, though his development has been gradual and he’s been viewed as a bit of a sleeper/hidden gem prospect.Multiple sources confirm the signing:
- His agency (Octagon Hockey) and recent teams celebrated the move.
This brings him back into the fold after his European stint—looking forward to seeing his progress in North America!
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