The Florida Panthers signed two-way center Eetu Luostarinen through the 2026-27 season on Tuesday.
The Florida Panthers signed two-way center Eetu Luostarinen through the 2026-27 season on Tuesday.
The Florida Panthers and Eetu Luostarinen decided not to wait too long into the season to negotiate a new contract.
Luostarinen and the Panthers agreed on a three-year contract extension on Tuesday. While the team didn't announce the financial details, it's reportedly $3 million per season.
"Eetu is a dynamic two-way center whose speed and strength allow him to excel on any line," Panthers GM Bill Zito said in a release. "His consistency and dependability are a great asset to our forward group, and we are excited about what he can continue to bring to our lineup in the coming seasons."
The 24-year-old from Siilinjarvi, Finland, took a nice step forward last season, recording 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points in 82 games – all are career highs.
Luostarinen had the sixth-most points on the Panthers and averaged the seventh-highest time on ice per game among Florida forwards, at 15:59. But the two-way center is a stalwart penalty-killer, logging the most shorthanded minutes of any forward on the team and the ninth-most among forwards in the league. Although the Panthers' penalty kill ranked 23rd in the NHL, they also tied for first for most penalties taken, giving Luostarinen plenty of difficult assignments to handle.
Since being drafted 42nd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017, Luostarinen played 212 regular-season games with 29 goals, 49 assists and 78 points to show for them. After eight appearances for the Hurricanes, he was traded with Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark and Chase Priskie for Vincent Trocheck in February 2020.
Luostarinen has also played 26 playoff games with the Panthers, recording three goals and seven points.
The contract extension kicks in during the 2024-25 season, as Luostarinen still has one year remaining on his two-year deal at a $1.5-million cap hit. Florida currently has 24 players signed on their active roster heading into next season, but they are about $412,500 over the salary cap.