Panthers, agent refute report Gudbranson turned down 4-year deal
Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / Getty
It appears Erik Gudbranson didn't reject a longer contract offer from the Florida Panthers before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks after all.
A report emerged Thursday saying the defenseman had turned down a four-year, $18-million contract with the Panthers prior to signing a one-year, $3.5-million deal he's carrying with him to Vancouver.
The report has since been refuted by both the Panthers and Gudbranson's agent, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.
The 24-year-old blue-liner will be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of 2016-17, with the ability to become unrestricted in 2018.