The Florida Panthers have secured their championship core by re-signing both defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Brad Marchand to long-term deals, making them one of the top teams in hockey for years to come.
Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad, the Panthers’ top-pairing defenseman, has agreed to an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $6.1 million, much less than what other teams might have offered him. The 29-year-old defender has been a key player for Florida’s defense since the team picked him first in the 2014 draft. Throughout his career, he has scored 118 goals and 380 points in 732 games.
Marchand
Brad Marchand has agreed to a six-year contract worth just under $32 million with the Panthers. The veteran forward, acquired from Boston at the trade deadline last season, helped Florida win the Stanley Cup by scoring important goals during the playoffs, including the game-winning goal in overtime during Game 2 of the Finals.
Completing the Trifecta
These signings follow General Manager Bill Zito’s earlier move to lock up Sam Bennett, the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner, to an eight-year, $64 million extension. Bennett makes the Panthers stronger by giving them a solid center player for many years to come.
Cap Space Considerations
With Ekblad, Marchand, and Bennett all taking deals, the Panthers have kept their championship winning players while still having money left to spend. Florida is left with approximately $8.2 million in cap space heading into the 2025-26 season.
This remaining space may not be enough to retain all of their remaining free agents. Evan Rodrigues, who contributed 19 goals and 38 points last season, will probably get a much bigger contract from another team. Given the Panthers’ current cap situation, it seems likely that “ERod” will be wearing different colors next season.
Should Fans Be Hyped?
Absolutely, Panthers fans should be very happy about these signings. The team has kept three important players from their championship teams. The commitment from veterans like Marchand and Ekblad to take less money speaks to the team’s positive environment in Florida. They clearly believe this team has more championships in its future, and they want to be part of it.
With that, Zito and the Panthers have sent a clear message to the world: this championship team has a lot in store.
