Panthers Sign Eetu Luostarinen to 8-Year Extension
Per PuckPedia, the Panthers and forward Eetu Luostarinen are finalizing an eight-year extension carrying a $5 million cap hit.
The deal keeps the two-time Stanley Cup champion in Florida well into his mid-30s and represents a significant raise from the $3 million cap hit he plays on in the final year of his current contract.
The extension had been building for days.
Pierre LeBrun of TSN first reported that the Panthers were working on a new deal with Luostarinen, calling him an important cog on the team and noting an announcement could come quickly once the signing window opened.
A Player Who Earns His Keep in the Games That Matter
Luostarinen has never been the name on the marquee in Florida, but he has been a fixture in everything the Panthers have accomplished.
The 27-year-old was originally drafted 42nd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017 and came to Florida in the 2020 trade that sent Vincent Trocheck to Raleigh.
Since arriving, he has become an essential part of the Panthers' identity.
He posted 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points in 73 games during the 2025-26 season, and over five seasons in Florida he has registered 58 goals and 153 points in 395 games with a plus-37 rating.
The #timetohunt and Luostarinen are finalizing an 8 year $5M cap hit extension https://t.co/n4Rj39C2vC
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 1, 2026
That is quality output for a middle-six forward, but his value has always shown up most in the postseason.
During the 2024-25 playoffs, the last of Florida's back-to-back Stanley Cup runs, Luostarinen scored five goals and 19 points in 23 games with a plus-11 rating while averaging 15:23 of ice time, slotting in on an effective line alongside Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell.
He has become more physical over the years as well, now averaging well over 100 hits a season, and he remains a reliable penalty killer, which matters for a Panthers team that has leaned into a harder, meaner identity this offseason with the additions of Garnet Hathaway and Radko Gudas.
The 6-foot-3 Finnish center also represented his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics, winning a bronze medal.
Why Now
The extension comes after Florida sorted out the rest of its offseason puzzle.
With Sergei Bobrovsky likely departing, the Panthers addressed their crease by trading for Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils and acquiring Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights.
Resolving the goaltending situation left Florida with enough cap space to keep Luostarinen in the fold at his new number.
Hearing that the Panthers are working on an extension with Eetu Luostarinen. He's got one year left on his current deal paying him $3 million. Important cog on that team. Could be announced as early as Wednesday.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 30, 2026
The Panthers are not expected to be especially active in free agency, having already committed most of their cap space to a core that is locked up long-term, which makes retaining a proven, cost-effective contributor like Luostarinen a priority rather than chasing outside help.
