Carter Verhaeghe signed an eight-year contract with the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 29-year-old forward, who is in the final season of a three-year contract he signed with Florida on July 28, 2021, could have become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
He found out the contract was done shortly before the Panthers’ 6-4 win against the Boston Bruins in the season opener at Amerant Bank Arena.
“I was halfway dressed, and then I went in and they told me it was done,” Verhaeghe said. “I was happy to get it done before the game so I could kind of focus on the game and not have that go through my head the whole time.”
Verhaeghe had 72 points (34 goals, 38 assists) in 76 regular-season games last season. He also had 21 points, including a team-leading 11 goals in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games, helping the Panthers win the Cup for the first time in their history.
“We couldn’t be happier," general manager Bill Zito said, turning to Verhaeghe. “I want to thank you on behalf of the organization. And it’s not just for what you do on the ice, but for the teammate you are, the person you are. We had a couple of talks through this process, and this guy is a Florida Panther. I think he defines what we just went through. All the superlatives that we use about our team, Carter lives them every day. We are blessed to have him."
Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (No. 82) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Verhaeghe has 249 points (127 goals, 122 assists) in 330 regular-season games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Panthers. He also has 55 points (26 goals, 29 assists) in 69 playoff games, winning the Cup with the Lightning in 2020.
“Growing up, you’re just trying to make the NHL and try to find a place. And I think, to be a Florida Panther for this long already is a huge honor for me,” Verhaeghe said. “To even extend it longer, I mean, I'm just so grateful for the organization to believe in me, for Bill to believe in me and give me the opportunity a couple years ago. We kind of haven't looked back. I'm just so appreciative of everyone and how everyone treated me, and I'm so proud to be a Panther for life.
“Coming here, I just took it day by day. Obviously, you want to win the Stanley Cup, and that's the goal. It was kind of my goal to come here and build it, but you never know if it's going to come true or what happens. It's crazy that it came true, and to do it with this group of guys and this organization, I couldn't be more proud. I'm so proud to be able to wear the Panther logo for a long time, and it wouldn't be right to wear any other sweater.”
NHL.com independent correspondent George Richards contributed to this report
