The Florida Panthers have announced one player will be sticking around for a couple more years. Swedish centre Jesper Boqvist signs a two-year extension with the Panthers today worth an average annual cap hit of $1.5 million. Boqvist had signed a one-year $775K contract with the Panthers this past offseason, and the club likes what they have seen. This is a great deal for both sides.
NHL Rumours: Florida Panthers Could Go After Defenceman
Jesper Boqvist Signs a Two-Year Deal with Panthers
For Boqvist, the Panthers are his third NHL franchise in his six years in the league. With 20 games remaining in the Panthers regular season schedule, he will approach, if not achieve many career highs. He’s already there in goals (12), three off in assists (currently at 10), and one point away (he has 22 and his career best is 23). In addition, he has 59 games played, with his career best being 70, so he should even eclipse that mark. He’s not far off his ice time high either 13:01 this year compared against 13:08 in 2021-22. Another stat (that also happens to be a personal best) is hits with 136 (he was previously never above 71). This shows that he is fitting in well in South Florida, playing the physical brand of hockey that helped win the organization the 2024 Stanley Cup championship.
What he Brings to Florida
General manager Bill Zito has built a winner in Florida, and for good reason. As Jesper Boqvist signs, he is just another example of a player identified as playing the right style of hockey. The Panthers are still loaded with talent and depth, and will contend this year in the playoffs. Bringing in someone like Boqvist initially on a cheap one-year deal is a great example of what it takes to be a winner in professional sports. Zito and the Cats are winners, and these type of deals are a perfect example of why.
Main Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
