Panthers sign Forsling to 3-year deal with reported $2.66M AAV
The Florida Panthers have found use for their newfound cap space.
Shortly after buying out blue-liner Keith Yandle on Thursday, the club announced it has re-signed pending restricted free-agent defenseman Gustav Forsling on a three-year deal.
The contract carries an annual cap hit of $2.66 million, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Forsling registered five goals and 12 assists in 43 games this past season while averaging 19:57 per contest. He was a favorite of head coach Joel Quenneville after the two spent parts of three seasons together with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The 25-year-old posted strong underlying numbers this past year and projects to fill a top-four role with the Cats moving forward:
The Panthers are expected to protect Forsling as their No. 3 defenseman behind Aaron Ekblad and MacKenzie Weegar in the upcoming expansion draft, according to FloridaHockeyNow's George Richards.
Florida claimed Forsling off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes in January.
HEADLINES
- Report: Boeser likely out Game 7 due to blood clotting issue
- Rangers' Wheeler available for Eastern Conference Final
- Drouin wants return to Avs: 'It's a great place to play hockey'
- Canes, Brind'Amour agree to reported 5-year extension
- Stars' DeBoer says break is critical: 'We were starting to run on fumes'