Keith Yandle to Panthers: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Veteran defenseman Keith Yandle reached an agreement Thursday with the Florida Panthers on a seven-year deal that will pay out a reported $6.35 million annually. 

ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun first reported the news. Citing Yandle's agent, Jerry Buckley, freelance hockey scribe Jimmy Murphy confirmed the deal. 

George Richards of the Miami Herald provided Panthers owner Doug Cifu's take on the signing:

Panthers general manager Tom Rowe also commented on the contract, per the team's official website: "We are thrilled to have signed Keith to a multiyear contract. He is a highly skilled and experienced defenseman who will be a tremendous asset on our blue line and in our dressing room. We look forward to Keith's contributions to our team both on the ice and in the South Florida community."

Fox Sports Midwest's Andy Strickland reported Yandle's new deal includes a "no-move clause." Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported the final year of Yandle's deal includes a "limited no-trade" clause.

Yandle is one of the league's most talented offensive defenders. His 152 points over the last three seasons are tied for sixth at the position with Shea Weber, per QuantHockey.com. A vast majority of those points (133) were assists.

He's coming off a season in which he tallied five goals and 42 assists while appearing in all 82 regular-season games. His durability is an underrated factor in his success, as he's played in 551 straight contests dating back to the 2008-09 campaign.

Suspect defending sometimes offsets his puck-moving prowess, though. The 29-year-old Massachusetts native's aggressiveness in joining the rush can leave him out of position, though he showcased a more reliable all-around game this past season in New York.

The Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated the New York Rangers in Round 1 of the playoffs. Afterward, Zach Braziller of the New York Post noted Yandle talked about how he'd enjoyed the past season-and-a-half with the organization, but he also wanted to keep his options open with free agency on the horizon.

"I can definitely see myself playing here [again]," Yandle said. "It's one of those things I have to weigh my options. For me, it's making the right decision."

In the end, he felt the Panthers provided him with the best offer. It's a significant loss for the Rangers, who dealt Anthony Duclair as part of the package to get the defenseman in March 2015. Finding his replacement will likely be an uphill battle, as he previously served as the power-play quarterback. 

Based on the hefty state of his new deal, he figures to maintain that role in Florida. 

The bottom line with Yandle is he always makes up for whatever defensive lapses may occur with his contributions at the offensive end.