The Florida Panthers have agreed to terms with forward Eetu Luostarinen on a three-year contract extension worth $9 million that will run through the end of the 2026-27 season.
Luostarinen, 24, set career highs in goals (17), assists (26), points (43) while appearing in all 82 games during the 2022-23 season, and was tied for second on the team (with defenseman Gustav Forsling) with a plus-19 rating. In the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, Luostarinen notched two goals and added three assists in 16 games, including scoring the game-winner in game six of the opening round versus the Boston Bruins.
🙌 THERE WILL BE A GAME 7 IN BOSTON 🙌
The @FlaPanthers would not go away quietly in Game 6, and shortly after the teams traded third period goals, Eetu Luostarinen RIPS home the eventual game winner! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/8HsayvGv6H
— NHL (@NHL) April 29, 2023
He will play out this season under the terms of his current contract which carries an AAV of $1.5 million.
General manager Bill Zito had this to say:
“Eetu is a dynamic two-way center whose speed and strength allow him to excel on any line. His consistency and dependability are a great asset to our forward group, and we are excited about what he can continue to bring to our lineup in the coming seasons.”
Luostarinen has skated in 212 career NHL games with Carolina (2019-20) and Florida (2020-21 to 2022-23), producing 29 goals and 78 points after being selected by the Hurricanes in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
The Panthers acquired Luostarinen from Carolina on February 24, 2020, at the NHL trade deadline. along with Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark and Chase Priskie in exchange for Vincent Trocheck.