Jonathan Huberdeau, Panthers Agree to New Contract: Details, Comments, Reaction
The Florida Panthers and rising star Jonathan Huberdeau have agreed on a new, long-term contract extension.
Per the Associated Press (via CBC.ca), Huberdeau's agent, Allan Walsh, confirmed the deal is for six years and $35.4 million and will go into effect starting with the 2017-18 season.
Just 23 years old, Huberdeau was the Panthers' first-round draft pick (No. 3 overall) in 2011. He didn't make his debut in Florida until the 2012-13 season, playing in 48 games and scoring 31 points.
Huberdeau's offensive output has increased in each of the last two seasons. He set career highs in points (59) and goals (20) last season and tied his career high with 39 assists.
The Panthers inked Huberdeau to a two-year extension prior to the 2015-16 season. His current deal will pay him $4 million with a $3.25 million cap hit in 2016-17, per Spotrac.
Coming off an Atlantic Division title last season, the Panthers are not resting on their laurels. Sporting News' Brandon Schlager noted Huberdeau's extension brings their total offseason spending to over $160 million.
The Panthers slowly built a roster of young talent that finally started to jell last season. They ultimately came up short in the playoffs, losing to the New York Islanders in the first round, but their future is secure with players such as Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov signed to long-term deals.
