Carter Verhaeghe signs 8-year deal with the Florida Panthers
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Carter Verhaeghe isn't a prospective free agent anymore. He intends to stay with the Florida Panthers for an extended period of time.
The Stanley Cup champions defeated the Boston Bruins 6-4 on Tuesday night, and shortly afterward, Verhaeghe and the Panthers reached an agreement on an eight-year, $56 million contract extension.
The contract, which has an eight-year term and a $7 million cap hit beginning in the 2025-2026 season, was announced by general manager Bill Zito.
«Carter is one of our most trusted players. South Florida has watched him evolve into one of the NHL's most elite goal scorers while also being a relentless forechecker,» said Zito. «His willpower and perseverance have allowed him to repeatedly succeed as a critical performer on the biggest stages. He is an integral part of our team now and into the future, and we are thrilled to see him remain a part of our core group.»
Entering his fifth season with the Panthers. The two-time Cup winner, who also won one with Tampa Bay, played 76 games with the Panthers last season, recording 34 goals and 72 points to Florida's championship run last season, after scoring 42 goals and 73 points in the 2022-2023 campaign.
"I'm so proud to be able to wear the Panther logo for a long time," Verhaeghe said following Florida's 6-4 season-opening win over the Boston Bruins.
Verhaeghe represented Canada in the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championship, where they won a gold medal after he recorded four assists in seven competition games. The Toronto Maple Leafs originally selected Verhaeghe in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft (82nd overall).
With 26 goals, 21 even-strength goals, 46 even-strength points, 5 overtime goals, and 10 game-winning goals, Verhaeghe leads the Panthers all-time in playoff scoring. Verhaeghe has 127 goals and 249 points in 330 career games.
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