The Florida Panthers fell from fourth to eighth in The Athletic’s yearly NHL contract efficiency rankings. Dom Luszczyszyn had this to say about the Cats, who still received an A- grade after a tough, injury-riddled season:
The Panthers are still in the top 10 after a rough year, but don’t rank as highly as they once did. Age, injuries and some recent extensions signed that were just fair (Eetu Luostarinen, Niko Mikkola) play a role, but it has more to do with the rest of the league catching up than anything. Florida’s average positive value and total surplus are both nearly identical to last season; other teams have just begun to score higher.
A return to form for the team as a whole should help Florida’s standing going into next season, but the relative age of everyone means it’s not exactly a given. With the rest of the East on the rise, even the two-time champs have something to prove next season.
The San Jose Sharks inked superstar center Macklin Celebrini to the richest contract in franchise history, a monster five-year extension worth a total of $94 million. The contract’s average annual value is $18.8 million. Celebrini’s 115 points last season ranked fourth in the NHL and he finished fourth in the voting for the Hart Trophy.
Goaltender Carter Gylander signed a a one-year, two-way contract worth $850K to remain with the Detroit Red Wings organization. Gylander posted a 20-9-5 record with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye and went 7-0-1 in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2025-26.
The New Jersey Devils re-signed defenseman Topias Vilén to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850K. Vilén put up 4 goals and 27 points in 61 games with the Utica Comets and played in his first two two NHL games with the Devils last season.
New Jersey also signed unrestricted free agent forward Colin White to a one-year, two-way deal worth $900K at the NHL level. White, a former Panther, spent the 2025-26 season in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda, where he posted 21 goals and 27 assists in 46 games.
Panthers prospect Shea Busch suited up for Canada in a 5-3 win over Finland at the World Junior Summer Showcase. Busch took the game’s first penalty, getting called for boarding 10:27 into the first period. Canada will take on the United States on Saturday.
Florida’s sixth-rounder in June, Vilho Vanhatalo also played in the tilt and was held off the score sheet. He has a goal and an assist in four games at the event. He opened the scoring in Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Americans.