Panthers sign Carter Verhaeghe to eight-year, $56 million extension

The Florida Panthers announced Tuesday night they signed forward Carter Verhaeghe to an eight-year extension worth $56 million, with an annual average value of $7 million. The deal kicks in next season and lasts through the 2032-33 campaign.

The Panthers made the announcement following their 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins in their first regular-season game of the 2024-25 campaign.

Daily Faceoff hockey insider Frank Seravalli reported that $48 million of the deal will be signing bonus, making his base salary $1 million per season.

“Carter is one of our most trusted players. South Florida has watched him evolve into one of the NHL’s most elite goal scorers while also being a relentless forechecker,” Panthers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito said in a press release. “His willpower and perseverance have allowed him to repeatedly succeed as a critical performer on the biggest stages.

“He is an integral part of our team now and into the future, and we are thrilled to see him remain a part of our core group,” he also said.

The 29-year-old Verhaeghe scored 34 goals and 38 assists for 72 points in 76 regular-season games last year. During the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Verhaeghe led all Panthers in goals (11) while finishing third in points (21), helping Florida win their first championship in franchise history.

Now entering his seventh NHL season, Verhaeghe has 127 goals and 122 assists for 249 points in 331 career regular-season games. He also has 26 goals and 29 assists for 55 points in 69 playoff contests. He won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20.