The Florida Panthers inked defenseman Gustav Forsling to a maximum-term, eight-year extension, general manager Bill Zito confirmed Thursday, according to team content manager Jameson Olive.
The new pact carries an average annual value of $5.75 million, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Forsling, whose current cap hit is $2,666,667, is the Panthers' top blue-liner. He has blossomed since Florida nabbed him off the waiver wire from the Carolina Hurricanes in January 2021.
The 27-year-old doesn't play as much as second-pairing anchor Brandon Montour - who leads the team in average ice time by about a minute and a half over Forsling - but the Swede has been the Cats' most productive rearguard in 2023-24.
Forsling entered Thursday leading the squad's defensemen in assists (22) and points (31) through 62 games while logging 21:47 of ice time per contest. His underlying numbers have been tremendous as well.
Gustav Forsling has re-signed with the Florida Panthers to an eight-year extension. Forsling has been excellent this year. He has became a legit No. 1 defenseman with Florida. Great news for Panthers! pic.twitter.com/TNsq7iCzvo
— Andy & Rono (@ARHockeyStats) March 7, 2024
The Panthers also extended forward Jonah Gadjovich for two years Thursday. His new deal will carry a $775,000 cap hit, per Friedman.
