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NHL Free Agency: Panthers sign Reinhart to $69 Million Deal

The Florida Panthers have secured their offensive star, Sam Reinhart, with an eight-year, $69 million contract extension.

By Dustin Gardner

Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) lifts the cup after winning game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) lifts the cup after winning game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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Florida has locked up Sam Reinhart for the future. The extension will help solidify their core for years to come. It was finalized just before the free agency deadline, carries an average annual value of $8.625 million and keeps Reinhart in Florida through the 2031-32 season.

Reinhart, 28, is coming off a career-defining year where he scored an NHL career-high 57 goals, second only to Toronto's Auston Matthews. He led the league with 27 power-play goals and 34 power-play points. His 94 points topped the Panthers' roster. His two-way play also garnered attention, finishing fourth in Selke Trophy voting.

The timing of the contract was crucial, as it had to be registered with the NHL Central Registry before midnight on Sunday to allow for the maximum eight-year term. This strategic move keeps Reinhart out of unrestricted free agency and secures him as a cornerstone of the Panthers' lineup alongside Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk for at least the next six years.

Reinhart's postseason heroics further cemented his value to the team. He contributed 16 points with 10 goals and 6 assists in 24 playoff games, including the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers. This pivotal moment capped off a remarkable season where Reinhart scored both Florida's first goal of the regular season and the last goal of their championship run.

Since joining Florida from a 2021 trade with Buffalo, Reinhart has consistently elevated his game. His first season saw him rack up 82 points, followed by 67 points in 2022-23, before this year's breakout performance. Originally drafted second overall by Buffalo in 2014, Reinhart has amassed 538 points in 696 regular-season games and 33 points in 55 playoff games.

While Reinhart missed the team's Stanley Cup parade due to a friend's wedding, his commitment to the Panthers' future is clear. This extension ensures he'll be a key part of Florida's title defense and long-term championship aspirations.

The Panthers have been busy in the offseason, also re-signing defenseman Dmitry Kulikov to a four-year deal and adding depth with one-year contracts for forwards Tomas Nosek, A.J. Greer, and Jesper Boqvist, as well as goaltender Chris Driedger. These moves, coupled with Reinhart's extension, demonstrate the Panthers' intent to remain contenders and build on their recent success for years to come.

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