SUNRISE — Sam Reinhart missed the Florida Panthers’ championship parade. He won’t miss their attempt to defend the title next season.
Reinhart — who scored the game-winner in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final — and the Panthers have agreed on an eight-year, $69 million contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday morning. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team did not release the financial details, only the agreement.
“Since coming to South Florida, Sam has demonstrated his ability to be a powerful scoring threat while maintaining strong defensive play,” Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito said. “His versatility and value as a player are only outshined by his premier personality and work ethic, and we are pleased to have him continue on with our group.”
The deal got done Sunday night, which was critical because it kept Reinhart out of unrestricted free agency and allowed Florida to give him the eight-year agreement. It also means the Panthers have forwards Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Reinhart all under contract together for the next six years.
“It’s a big head start,” Zito said of having much of the core already in place. “If I can twist your question a little bit, ‘If you are not successful in getting every piece that you want to get, is the train still moving forward?’ Before you can build, you have to sustain it. That’s the hope for sure. I think it’s the case, but we’re still trying to get it right. We’ll still never stop trying to get the right pieces and the right people.”
Reinhart — who scored a Panthers-record 67 goals this past season, including 10 in the playoffs — missed Sunday’s parade and rally celebrating the Stanley Cup title because he was attending his best friend’s wedding. He sent a video instead, telling fans he wished he could have been at the events.
“What a week it’s been,” Reinhart said. “Best week of my life.”
Indeed, it was a week like none other.
Reinhart scored Florida’s first goal of the season and, eight months later, had the last goal of the season. His score late in the second period put the Panthers ahead to stay in their 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the title series.
From there, it was a few days of celebrating with teammates, then his friend’s wedding, and now a deal that keeps him in Florida for years to come.
Kulikov also to return
The Panthers also agreed to terms with veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov on a four-year contract extension through the 2027-28 season, the team announced.
“Dmitry’s stout defensive play and strong physicality were crucial to winning our first Stanley Cup,” said Zito. “We are excited that he will be a Florida Panther for years to come.”
The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Kulikov, 33, recorded 20 points this season for the Panthers, with one goal and 19 assists in 76 games. He also had a plus-15 rating. His 19 assists were his most since the 2014-15 season during his first stint with Florida. In this year’s playoffs, Kulikov had 56 hits and two assists.
He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the first round (14th overall) in 2009 and has appeared in 948 career NHL games with Florida (2009-16, 2023-24), Buffalo (2016-17), Winnipeg (2017-20), New Jersey (2020-21), Edmonton (2020-21), Minnesota (2021-22) and Anaheim (2022-23). The 15-year veteran has amassed 234 career points (46-188-234).
“He has a reasonable number and I suspect he could have a better financial picture somewhere else,” Zito said. “And he said: ‘I’m all in. I’m staying.’ That’s really nice to have a commitment from a guy like that with everything he leaves out on the ice.”
Panthers fan favorite Ryan Lomberg crowd surfs during the team’s championship celebration on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at Fort Lauderdale beach. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Lomberg, Montour leaving
Panthers fan favorite Ryan Lomberg signed a two-year contract with the Calgary Flames, one day after celebrating wildly with fans at the Panthers’ championship parade on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The deal reportedly is worth $4 million.
The 29-year-old Lomberg, who had five goals and two assists in 75 games with the Panthers this season, spent the first two years of his NHL career in Calgary before signing with Florida as a free agent. The physical forward played sparingly on the fourth line during the Panthers’ Stanley Cup run.
Fresh off helping Florida win the Stanley Cup, defenseman Brandon Montour signed a $50 million, seven-year contract with Seattle.
Also, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and backup goalie Anthony Stolarz are signing with Toronto. Ekman-Larsson deal is reportedly for four years and $3.5 million, while Stolarz’s is for two years and $5 million. Forward Kevin Stenlund is signing with Utah for two years and $4 million.
Other deals
The Panthers also agreed to terms with forward Rasmus Asplund on a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old Asplund has appeared in 183 career NHL games, notching 49 points (18-31-49) with the Sabres (2019-2020, 2022-23) and Predators (2022-23). He was originally drafted by Buffalo in the second round in 2016. …
— Forward Tomas Nosek will sign a one-year deal wit the Panthers. Nosek, 31, skated in 36 games with New Jersey in 2023-24, compiling six points (2-4-6). He averaged the third-highest shorthanded time on ice among New Jersey forwards (1:23).
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Nosek has skated in 434 career NHL games between New Jersey (2023-24), Boston (2021-22 to 2022-23), Vegas (2017-18 to 2021-22) and Detroit (2015-16 to 2016-17), registering 107 points (44-63-107). He has also played in 52 Stanley Cup playoff games, producing 14 points (6-8-14). …
— Florida has agreed to terms with forward A.J. Greer on a two-year contract. Greer, 27, appeared in 59 games with the Calgary in the 2023-24 season, matching his career high with 12 points (6-6-12).
The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Greer has played in 167 career NHL games between Colorado (2016-17 to 2018-19), New Jersey (2020-21 to 2021-22), Boston (2022-23) and Calgary (2023-24), producing 32 points (13-19-32). …
— Florida agreed to terms with forward Jesper Boqvist on a one-year contract. Boqvist, 25, skated in 47 games with Boston in 2023-24, recording 14 points (6-18-14) and a plus-14 rating.
The 6-foot-1, 184-pound Boqvist has appeared in 236 career NHL games between Boston (2023-24) and New Jersey (2019-20 to 2022-23) amassing 69 points (34-35-69). He reached the 10-goal mark in back-to-back years with New Jersey from 2021-22 to 2022-23. …
— The Panthers are bring back Chris Driedger after the goaltender agreed to terms on a one-year contract. Driedger, 30, appeared in two games with Seattle in 2023-24, posting a .917 save percentage.
The 6-foot-4, 208-pound Driedger has appeared in 67 total NHL regular season games in his career between Ottawa (2014-15 to 2016-17), Florida (2019-20 to 2020-21) and Seattle (2021-22 and 2023-24), registering a 31-24-5 record, .917 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average.
