The Florida Panthers re-signed defenseman Erik Gudbranson to a one-year, $3.5 million contract extension. Gudbranson was set to become a restricted free agent, but with this new contract being a $1 million raise, the Panthers have locked the 24-year-old defenseman in for at least one more year.
Panthers Re-Sign Defenceman Erik Gudbranson
“We are very pleased to have signed Erik,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said in a statement. “He is an important part of our young core, who has continued to develop into a reliable, physical presence on our blue line and a strong leader in our locker room.” (Via NHL.com).
“I’m very excited for another year with the Panthers,” Gudbranson said. “We took great strides last season as a team, and our group can only improve upon the success we had. It’s a great time for the organization, and I look forward to getting back on the ice with the team.” (NHL.com)
In the 2015-2016 season, Erik Gudbranson played in 64 regular season games, scoring two goals, while also adding seven assists to rack up a total of nine points. He also played in all six of Florida’s first round series games against the New York Islanders. He had zero points in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The one year contract extension was done in order to help create payroll flexibility for other players such as Vincent Trocheck and Brian Campbell, who will become a restricted and unrestricted free-agent, respectively.
In 309 career games with the Florida Panthers, Gudbranson has a total of 43 points and 346 penalty minutes. He was drafted number three overall by the club in the 2010 National Hockey League entry draft.
Main Photo Credit:
Main Photo Caption: SUNRISE, FL – APRIL 22: Erik Gudbranson #44 of the Florida Panthers clears the puck against the New York Islanders during the second overtime period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the BB&T Center on April 22, 2016 in Sunrise, Florida. The Islanders defeated the Panthers 2-1 in double overtime. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
