According to SportsNet’s Chris Johnston, the Florida Panthers have locked up winger Jonathan Huberdeau to a six-year, $35.4M contract extension.
Jonathan Huberdeau has agreed to a $35.4M, six-year extension with #FlaPanthers. That’s a $5.9M AAV.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 6, 2016
Huberdeau, who finished with 59 points and hit the 20-goal mark for the first time last season, is in the final year of his current contract which carries a cap hit of $3.25M in 2016-17. His new deal, which carries an average annual value of $5.9M will begin at the start of the 2017-18 season and run through the 2022-23 campaign.
The Panthers recent trade of Dave Bolland (and Lawson Crouse) to the Arizona Coyotes opened up the space needed for Florida to lock up yet another member of its young core for the long-term.
Florida selected Huberdeau with the third overall pick in the 2011 Entry Draft and has posted 172 points (58G/114A) in 272 career games with the Panthers. He led the team in scoring during the 2014-15 season with 54 points.