Breaking news.Panthers GM Zeroed in on Ekblad & Marchand Signing.

🏒 Panthers GM Zeroed in on Ekblad & Marchand Signing.

Florida’s GM Bill Zito expressed urgency following Sam Bennett’s eight-year, $64 million deal, saying contract talks with defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Brad Marchand have been ongoing. He emphasized a firm desire to retain both before free agency opened on July 1, and mentioned fallback “Plan B” and “Plan C,” though he hopes to keep them part of their championship core .

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📄 Signed: Ekblad & Marchand Extensions

Aaron Ekblad signed an 8-year extension worth approximately $48.6–48.8 million (around $6.1 million AAV) .

Brad Marchand, 37, secured a 6-year deal valued at around $30–32 million total (~$5.25 million AAV), including a no-move clause for the first four seasons .

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📢 Culture & Cap Strategy

Zito credits the Panthers’ winning environment and player appreciation for closing the deals. “It’s 100 percent those guys wanting to be part of something that they created,” he said . Ekblad echoed that sentiment, praising the organization’s off-ice support—from facilities to travel logistics—as pivotal in his decision to stay .

Despite entering the offseason with minimal cap space (around $4–5 million projected), Florida managed to lock in its stars through smart contract structuring and front-loading of bonuses .

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🔮 Outlook

With Sam Bennett, Ekblad, and Marchand signed, the Panthers have secured an elite core under long-term contracts—positioning them to pursue a rare third straight Stanley Cup in the salary-cap era. Zito’s negotiations closed loopholes without sacrificing depth, though some role players had to depart .

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Let me know if you’d like player breakdowns, salary cap implications, or what this entails

for the roster around them.