Fresh off back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, the Panthers’ offseason has been all about preserving a championship core. They’ve struck gold by re-signing key contributors:
-
Sam Bennett inked an 8-year, $64 M extension after a Conn Smythe-winning 22-point playoff performance
-
Brad Marchand, still clutch at 37, returns on a 6-year, $30 M deal, bringing veteran grit to a deep forward group .
-
Aaron Ekblad secured his spot for another eight years at $6.1 M AAV—anchoring the blue lineThese signings represent shrewd cap management by Bill Zito, leveraging Florida’s tax advantage to retain core talent at below-market rates
Rising Stars & Emerging Depth
Look beyond the household names—Florida’s internal growth is just as compelling:
-
Sam Reinhart tallied a team-high 39 goals and 81 points, including a historic four-goal showing in Game 6 of the Cup Final. He’s now secured through 2032–33 on a $69 M extension
- Anton Lundell, entering his fourth NHL season, has been a consistent contributor (44 points in 65 games as a rookie) and recently agreed to a 6-season, $30 M deal
- Eetu Luostarinen, deployed alongside Marchand and Lundell during the playoff run, delivered clutch scoring—including a four-point elimination game vs. Tampa and a Game‑7 series assist
-
Defensive Reinforcements & Structural Shift
After key departures like Oliver Ekman‑Larsson and Brandon Montour, the Panthers focused on depth and system:
-
Veterans like Nate Schmidt, Gustav Forsling, Mike Reilly, and Dmitry Kulikov were added to reinforce the defenseUnder Paul Maurice’s system, Florida has emphasized team defense, forechecking, and a structure-first philosophy—embraced widely in the locker room .
-
This cultural identity—tough, relentless, and defensively sound—is now part of the Panthers’ DNA, ensuring sustained competitiveness in tight playoff battles.
-
-
Leave a Reply