The Florida Panthers secured another significant achievement on Monday, mere weeks after clinching back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.
Star players Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett expressed their desire to remain with the team, and their wish has come true. Following the long-term contract given to Bennett, the Panthers have successfully re-signed both Ekblad and Marchand.
Ekblad inked an eight-year deal valued at $48.8 million, while Marchand agreed to a six-year contract. These agreements, struck before the commencement of NHL free agency, prevent the players from potentially receiving more lucrative offers elsewhere, as the salary cap is set to increase significantly.
General Manager Bill Zito praised Ekblad, saying, “Aaron is a pillar of our defense who has consistently excelled at both ends of the ice as one of the best defensemen in the NHL over the past decade. From a Calder-winning rookie campaign to two Stanley Cup championships, Aaron’s consummate leadership on and off the ice has been integral to our team’s success.” Ekblad’s contract solidifies his place in the team’s history and ensures his continued presence in South Florida.
Ekblad and Marchand join an elite list of Panthers players under contract until at least 2030, including Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Gustav Forsling, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Seth Jones, and the playoff MVP Bennett, who recently signed an eight-year, $64 million deal.
The Panthers faced questions this summer about retaining their key players—Bennett, Ekblad, and Marchand—who were all on the brink of free agency. Fortunately, they managed to keep all of them.
Meanwhile, defensemen across the NHL were also securing their futures.
The Edmonton Oilers reached an agreement with Evan Bouchard for $42 million over four years, with an annual cap hit of $10.5 million. Columbus negotiated a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension with Ivan Provorov. While the New York Islanders secured Alexander Romanov for eight years at $50 million. Washington also finalized a $2.6 million, two-year contract with Declan Chisholm and allowed Alexander Alexeyev to explore unrestricted free agency.
The Detroit Red Wings kept themselves busy by re-signing winger Patrick Kane to a one-year deal involving a $3 million salary plus performance bonuses. GM Steve Yzerman had expressed optimism about retaining Kane, and to create cap space, the Red Wings traded Vladimir Tarasenko to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations. The Wild, hoping for a resurgence from Tarasenko, see this as a fresh start for the former Red Wing.
In other trade news, Utah sent Matias Maccelli to Toronto, with a conditional draft pick in play, while Carolina acquired the rights to goaltender Cayden Primeau from Montreal.
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