Panthers' Aaron Ekblad: Gets long-term extension from Florida

Ekblad signed an eight-year, $60 million contract extension with the Panthers on Friday, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports, adding that the deal includes signing bonuses.

Analysis:

That figure reportedly goes down as a franchise-high. The Black Cats should be on the prowl thanks to a retooled defense that includes newly signed Mark Pysyk and Keith Yandle. Ekblad and Yandle each received long-term contracts with Florida this summer, and it's believed those power-play weapons will make up the top defensive pairing once the 2016-17 season gets underway. One can expect Ekblad's scoring to rise due to Yandle's tremendous instincts and passing skills from the point -- given that Ekblad has 75 career regular-season points (27 goals, 48 assists), it's easy to forget that he's 20 years old and just two years deep into his NHL career. The 2015 Calder Trophy winner is bound to fly off draft boards, so act fast when that time comes.