Overview

• Brad Marchand signed a six-year, $32 million extension that spreads his payout through his age-43 season at a $5.25 million average cap hit.
• Sam Bennett agreed to a multi-year contract reflecting his postseason contributions and Aaron Ekblad secured an eight-year deal at a $6.1 million AAV to retain the team’s defensive anchor.
• GM Bill Zito engineered these extensions to minimize immediate cap impacts and leveraged Florida’s tax-free environment alongside his history of finding value signings.
• The organization bolstered depth with plug-and-play veterans like Jeff Petry, maintaining roster balance through strategic low-cost additions.
• Having reached three straight Stanley Cup Finals and won back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025, the Panthers are banking on their veteran core for an unprecedented three-peat.