The 2015-16 season seems to be one in which all that potential is finally paying off for the Florida Panthers, and key figures keeping getting paid for their good efforts.
Multiple sources, including the Miami Herald’s George Richards, report that the Panthers signed Aleksander Barkov to a six-year, $35.4 million contract extension on Monday.
That works out to a $5.9 million cap hit for a high draft pick who’s really coming into his own, especially when he’s on an underrated top line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Jaromir Jagr.
As Richards notes, the Panthers soak up a couple expensive years that would have gone to unrestricted free agency.
This comes on the heels of front office members being locked up, as the Panthers are keeping GM Dale Tallon and head coach Gerard Gallant around long-term, as well.
#FlaPanthers give six years to Nick Bjugstad last year, Sasha Barkov tonight. Aaron Ekblad (RFA in 2017) is on deck.
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) January 25, 2016
We’ll see if anything comes from the team itself today, as Richards believes most of the official word will surface tomorrow.