The Florida Panthers and general manager Tom Rowe felt trading two days ago for the negotiating rights of Keith Yandle was a “risk worth taking.”
Rowe also revealed later that evening that the two sides were already negotiating a new contract.
Following the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday, news broke that Yandle and the Panthers had agreed to terms on a new seven-year contract, according to a report from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.
Keith Yandle has agreed to terms with the Florida Panthers: seven years and $6.35 million average per season
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 23, 2016
Panthers co-owner Doug Cifu on Yandle:"Keith wants to win the Stanley Cup in Florida. That's why we were his top priority and vice-versa.''
— Harvey Fialkov (@hfialkov) June 23, 2016
The Panthers have not made an announcement confirming the deal.
Yandle, 29, was a pending unrestricted free agent defenseman coming off a 47-point season with the New York Rangers.
Twenty-two of those points also came on the power play for New York, while the Panthers had the 23rd-ranked power play during the regular season at 16.9 per cent.