A core component to the Panthers' defense corps present and future has signed on long term.
Michael Matheson and Florida have finalized an eight-year contract extension, the team announced Monday. The deal is worth $39 million, per TSN's Bob McKenzie, and carries a $4.875 million average annual value, making Matheson a team-friendly bargain, even if he has only one full NHL season under his belt.
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Matheson, a left-hand shot, was the Panthers' 23rd overall draft pick in 2012 and has just 84 games of NHL experience. But the 23-year-old established himself as a rookie in 2016-17, scoring seven goals with 17 points while averaging more than 21 minutes per game.
