Introduction to the Back-to-Back Stanley Cup Champions
The Florida Panthers completed another hat trick Monday, less than two weeks since repeating as Stanley Cup champions. After Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, and Sam Bennett expressed their desire to stay in South Florida, they got their wish. The Panthers have agreed to re-sign Ekblad and Marchand, according to people familiar with the agreements.
Re-signing of Key Players
Ekblad agreed to an eight-year deal with an average value of $6.1 million, while Marchand agreed to a six-year deal worth around $5 million annually. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the signings. The deals were finalized before the start of NHL free agency on Tuesday, and had either Ekblad or Marchand hit the open market, they could have received offers for much more than the Panthers had the ability to pay, even with the salary cap going up a record amount.
Long-Term Contracts
They become the ninth and 10th players under contract with the Panthers through at least 2030 or beyond, joining Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Gustav Forsling, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Seth Jones, and Bennett — the playoff MVP who signed an eight-year, $64 million deal last week. This was the question about the Panthers heading into the summer: Could they keep some combination of Bennett, Ekblad, and Marchand, all of whom were set for free agency? The answer was yes — to all of them.
D-man Deals
Ekblad was not the only defenseman to re-sign Monday. The Columbus Blue Jackets agreed to terms with Ivan Provorov on a seven-year contract worth $59.5 million, according to a person with knowledge of the extension. The New York Islanders signed Alexander Romanov to an eight-year contract worth $50 million. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because terms were not disclosed.
Trades
The Minnesota Wild acquired winger Vladimir Tarasenko from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations. Tarasenko, 33, has one year left on his contract at a salary cap hit of $4.75 million. He helped Florida win the Cup last year after being a key part of St. Louis’ championship run in 2019. The Wild, Tarasenko’s sixth team in four seasons, are counting on a bounce-back performance out of him after he had just 11 goals and 22 assists with Detroit, his lowest point total for any season of his career in which he played at least half of the games.
Conclusion
The re-signing of Ekblad and Marchand, along with the recent signing of Bennett, solidifies the Panthers’ roster for the upcoming season. The team’s ability to keep its key players is a testament to its commitment to winning and its attractiveness to top talent in the NHL. With a strong core in place, the Panthers are well-positioned to make another deep playoff run.
FAQs
- Q: Who did the Panthers re-sign on Monday?
- A: The Panthers re-signed Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand.
- Q: What are the terms of Ekblad’s contract?
- A: Ekblad agreed to an eight-year deal with an average value of $6.1 million.
- Q: What are the terms of Marchand’s contract?
- A: Marchand agreed to a six-year deal worth around $5 million annually.
- Q: Who else did the Panthers sign recently?
- A: The Panthers recently signed Sam Bennett to an eight-year, $64 million deal.
- Q: What other notable trades occurred on Monday?
- A: The Minnesota Wild acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the Detroit Red Wings, and the Utah Mammoth traded Matias Maccelli to Toronto.
