{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/6oSa52J5.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Hard Rock Guitar Hotel lights up to celebrate Panthers Stanley Cup.", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/6oSa52J5-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6oSa52J5.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6oSa52J5.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-6LgJnXEq.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 180, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 440696, "filesize": 9419892, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-1QJ1dkot.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 270, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 710913, "filesize": 15195767, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-h6aVm5rK.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 720, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1778569, "filesize": 38016919, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-UQSYMDp9.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 113488, "filesize": 2425814 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-vnHaI3dA.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 1080, "width": 1920, "label": "1080p", "bitrate": 3807382, "filesize": 81382793, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-yFReK32n.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 360, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 705871, "filesize": 15088012, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6oSa52J5-0LealTTd.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 540, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 1186652, "filesize": 25364690, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Florida Panthers are still in celebration mode following the team’s Stanley Cup victory earlier this week, but the world doesn’t stop spinning for anyone. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "On Thursday, the NHL gathered in Las Vegas for three days that will mark the end of one season and the beginning of another. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Thursday night the star-studded NHL Awards took center stage from the Fontainebleau in Vegas, followed by the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday at the Sphere. " } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg" }, "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sunday, Panthers nation will all be focused back on South Florida as the Cats will hold their Stanley Cup Championship parade along A1A on Fort Lauderdale Beach. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Then on Monday, July 1, NHL free agency opens, and free agents will start signing new contracts. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It’s an annual feeding frenzy that is always fun to track." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Additionally, some players who are still under contract will also sign extensions this summer to stay with their respective teams before getting close to hitting the open market." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "One of those players might be Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe, who has one year left on his current deal." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The 28-year-old (he’ll be 29 in August) has played four seasons with Florida after being one of the first signings by Panthers General Manager Bill Zito back in 2020." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "During his time with the Cats, Verhaeghe has racked up 118 goals and 236 points in 278 games while emerging as one of the NHL’s premiere clutch performers. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Verhaeghe’s original contract with Florida was a two-year, $2 million deal as he had yet to establish himself at the highest level, although he had just led the AHL in scoring a year prior. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "His next offer from Zito came less than a year later, as the savvy GM looked to lock up Verhaeghe for an extended future in Sunrise after seeing that the young sniper was, in fact, the real deal. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "With one year left on his original contract, Verhaeghe signed a three-year extension worth $12.5 million that carried an AAV (average annual value) of $4.16M per year during the summer of 2021. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Within ten months of initially signing with the Panthers, Verhaeghe had been locked up for five seasons and given a significant pay increase. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Now it seems both parties may be heading down a similar path, with another bump in pay likely heading Verhaeghe’s way. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "This time, the tenacious forward is trending toward a six-year deal with an AAV in the area of $8 to $8.5 million, and the agreement could come at any time." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Verhaeghe has become a staple in the Panthers lineup, with his combination of speed, grit and determination personifying the kind of hockey that Florida wants to play. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "He is one of 14 players currently under contract for the Panthers in 2024-25. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Zito heads into the offseason with just under $20 million in cap space to spend. A portion of that is expected to go to players coming off the Panthers books on July 1." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Among the players hitting free agency who were regulars in Florida’s lineup are Sam Reinhart, Brandon Montour, Ryan Lomberg, Kevin Stenlund, Nick Cousins, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz, Dmitry Kulikov, Anthony Stolarz and trade deadline additions Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "There also will be attention paid to restricted free agents Anton Lundell and Josh Mahura." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It’s a delicate balancing act that’s going on in Florida’s front office." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "While Zito clearly has his work cut out for him this summer, he and his staff are still keeping an eye on the future. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Along with Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad will also hit the open market following the upcoming season. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Could more extensions be on the way, or perhaps a trade? " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Stay tuned. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "‘Humbling’: Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito reacts to Stanley Cup victory" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Florida Panthers release 2024-25 preseason schedule" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Matthew Tkachuk takes Stanley Cup into Atlantic Ocean, Panthers party with fans at Elbo Room" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Florida Panthers receive Stanley Cup Champion treatment from Hard Rock Guitar Hotel" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Panthers Stanley Cup Championship parade date, route set for Fort Lauderdale" } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg" }, "caption": "" } } ] }

Florida Panthers, Carter Verhaeghe working toward contract extension