The Florida Panthers are getting the band back together after their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship — and that means extending one familiar face and one newer one.
Forward Brad Marchand is signing a six-year, $30 million contract to stay in Florida, while defenseman Aaron Ekblad will ink an eight-year, $48.8 million extension, several reports said Monday.
Marchand, acquired from the Boston Bruins in a shocking move on trade deadline day, was a crucial contributor to Florida’s playoff run. He put up 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 23 games as the Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers on their path to the Cup.
In 16 seasons spent with the Bruins (2009-25) and Panthers, Marchand has played in 1,100 regular-season games and tallied 980 points (424 goals, 556 assists). He will be 43 years old at the end of his new deal.
Ekblad, meanwhile, has spent his entire career in South Florida after the Panthers drafted him first overall in 2014. He had 33 points (three goals, 30 assists) in 56 regular-season games and another 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 19 playoff games for Florida this past season.
Ekblad, 29, was suspended 20 games by the NHL in March for a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy. In a statement, Ekblad said he “made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel.”
The suspension caused Ekblad to sit out 18 regular-season games and two playoff games. He returned before the end of the first-round series against the rival Lightning.
The moves follow Florida signing Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett to an eight-year, $64 million contract on Friday.
–Field Level Media
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