The Florida Panthers own one of the leagues best and most promising forward groups in the league. The team has already signed a large majority of them to long-term deals, including Jonathan Huberdeau. The team has agreed to a six-year deal worth $35.4 million.
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
Jonathan Huberdeau Signs Six-Year Deal
This past season was one of Huberdeau’s best in the NHL. He finished the season with 20 goals and 39 assists in 76 games. The goals and 59 points are a career high for the young forward.
He also contributed with one goal and two assists in six playoff games. Huberdeau was a part of the team’s most dominant line when he was paired with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr.
Huberdeau was drafted third overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He is entering his fifth year in the NHL. His career spans 272 games where he has recorded 58 goals and 114 assists for a total of 172 points.
Before the new extension, Huberdeau had been signed to a two year deal worth $6.25 million last season. He will be playing the last year of this deal this upcoming season before the extension kicks in.
“It’s so much better for the team and his teammates. There’s room for improvement [for Huberdeau].” Panthers GM Dave Tallon said last year. “With Barkov and Jagr how they finished, it’s a chance to hit a home run here. I like to have guys hungry. That will keep him alert and ready to go. It’s a good bridge contract, very fair.’’
He is one highlight of a young Panthers core that has been locked up for years to come. Huberdeau’s deal is the exact same deal that Barkov signed just last year. He also joins Vincent Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad, Reilly Smith and Aaron Ekblad who also have long-term deals. The team has their young talent signed through at least 2021.
With those moves, as well as some recent off-season moves, the Panthers are not only on the rise but a potential Stanley Cup contender as well. Their recent finish of 103 points in the Atlantic Division was a huge jump from where they sat just two years ago with 66 points in 2013-2014.
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