Elliotte Friedman Drops Shocking Insight on Panthers' Contract Plans

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 12:39 PM ET

The Florida Panthers appeared set to lose a top free agent this summer, but now, Elliotte Friedman has revealed their plans to keep all their big names.

With arguably the most loaded team in recent NHL history, the Florida Panthers cruised to victory in the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals, going back-to-back for the first time in team history, being the second team from the state of Florida to do so since 2020.

However, there could be many changes coming this summer, as reigning Conn Smythe Award winner Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and long-time defenseman Aaron Ekblad are all headed to free agency.

While there's a belief out there that there's no possible way to keep all three, it appears as though that may now be a possibility, as top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has revealed the teams plan to keep them all in the Sunshine State.

According to Friedman, the team have a plan to spread out the money for Ekblad and Marchand across a number of years by giving them a lengthy term, thus allowing the team to fit all of them under the salary cap, with the deal for Bennett seemingly all but done at this point in time.

Unfortunately, given the tax breaks that a team in Florida gets, this is something that they can easily get done, and with a team that's already deeper than any in the league, this would make them a threat for the three-peat in 2026, something that hasn't been done since the New York Islanders of the early 1980's.

Ultimately, there's a chance that bigger offers could come in from rival teams, but for now, all signs are pointing towards the Panthers trying to lock in their big name free agents, and if that happens, they'll no doubt be the favourites once more to win the Stanley Cup next season.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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