Florida Panthers sign Zac Dalpe to two-year contract extension

The Florida Panthers have signed center Zac Dalpe to a two-year contract extension with a $775,000 cap hit.

Dalpe is currently in the final year of a two-year deal with a $750,000 cap hit that he signed with the Panthers during the 2021 offseason. Dalpe’s new contract will carry the highest cap hit of his career so far, as he had never made more than $750,000 in a season. However, it is a two-way contract, so only $400,000 of that is guaranteed if Dalpe spends the entirety of the new deal in the minors.

Dalpe is currently one of 16 unrestricted free agents set to have a $775,000 cap hit next season, joining a list highlighted by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nick Seeler, Nashville Predators Winger Cole Smith, Arizona Coyotes winger Liam O’Brien, and St. Louis Blues winger Nathan Walker.

Dalpe has played 14 games for the Panthers this season, with two goals, two assists, and four points in those games. However, he’s spent more time in the AHL this season with the Panther’s affiliate team, the Charlotte Checkers, where he has 18 goals, 13 assists, and 31 points in 41 games.

Dalpe is a former second round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, drafted back in 2008. He’s managed to stick around and make a solid professional career of himself, spending time in the Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Panthers organizations over the course of 14 seasons of pro hockey.

After signing Dalpe, the Panthers now have 10 more UFAs to sign between their NHL and AHL rosters for next season with over $11 million in projected cap space, including Patric Hornqvist, Radko Gudas, Alex Lyon, and both Eric & Marc Staal on their NHL roster. They also have 11 restricted free agents to sign, including Colin White, Givani Smith, and Evan Fitzpatrick.