Panthers committing dollars to core

On Wednesday, the Florida Panthers announced a six-year extension for young star winger Jonathan Huberdeau.

The deal pays out more than $35 million and continues an offseason trend in which the Panthers have locked up their core, showing a willingness to spend along the way.

In July, the Panthers signed franchise defenseman Aaron Ekblad to a maximum eight-year pact, worth $60 million. Only days later, winger Reilly Smith re-upped for $25 million over five years, while center Vincent Trocheck agreed to a six-year, $28.5-million extension.

That's not to forget commitments to forwards Nick Bjugstad and Aleksander Barkov, signed until 2021 and 2022, respectively, that pays out a combined $60 million over that term.

"I'm very fortunate and we're very fortunate that we have that commitment from (ownership)," Dale Tallon, the Panthers' president of hockey operations, told NHL.com. "It's fantastic. This is the kind of ownership you want … you want commitment, and they're showing it, they're putting their money where their mouth is."

Florida has 10 players signed into the next decade, including defensemen Keith Yandle (seven years, $44.45 million) and Jason Demers (five years, $22.5 million), who joined the Panthers in free agency.

The Panthers won the Atlantic Division last season and qualified for the postseason for just the second time since 2000. The expectation is that Florida's young core will take the next step this season.

"The team is in a great position for not only the present but the future," Tallon said. "I'm very excited about the Florida Panthers and the direction we're headed in."