Cup Contenders: Reviewing The Panthers Busy Offseason
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There is no denying that the Florida Panthers are having one of the best and most productive offseasons in franchise history.
At first some fans were scratching their heads considering the Panthers had just completed the best season the team had ever seen, cracking the 100 point plateau for the first time.
As the dust settled it became clear that the Panthers front office had a plan in place and quickly put the wheels in motion, with the end result leaving many to view Florida as one of the top contenders to come out of the Eastern Conference next season.
Let's take a look at what the busy Panthers have been up to this offseason.
EXTENDED GUYS
Aaron Ekblad: The 20-year-old is entering his third season in the NHL and is already considered one of the best defensemen in the game. Florida rewarded him with an 8-year, $60 million contract extension that doesn't kick in until 2017-18.
Vincent Trocheck: Following his breakout campaign last season, Trocheck has become a focal point of the Panthers offense. He was given a 6-year extension worth $28.5 million.
Reilly Smith: Acquired last summer in a trade with the Boston Bruins, Smith proved to be a perfect fit in Florida and was given a 5-year, $25 million extension.
Derek MacKenzie: One of the unsung heroes on the Panthers, MacKenzie is great at faceoffs, a mainstay on the penalty kill and a leader both on and off the ice. He was re-upped for another two years for $2.7 million, keeping him in Florida through the 2018-19 season.
NEW GUYS
Keith Yandle: Florida acquired Yandle's negotiating rights in a trade and locked up the offensive defenseman on a 7-year, $44.5 million contract.
James Reimer: An ascending goalie who could end up being a long-term solution in Florida, Reimer was signed to a 5-year deal worth $17 million.
Colton Sceviour: A guy who could end up being a fan favorite in Florida, Sceviour has size, speed, grit and a great shot. One of the most underrated free agent signings in the NHL this summer.
The Panthers also added defenseman Jason Demers (5-years, $22.5M), center Jonathan Marchessault (2-years, $1.5M), defenseman Mark Pysyk (trade with Buffalo), center Jared McCann (trade with Vancouver) and goalie Reto Berra (trade with Colorado).