It means the world to me. Nineteen years is a long time, especially with one franchise, and I have so much pride and still a lot of expectations for my career in these eight years.’

The Florida Panthers entered the off-season with another Stanley Cup championship and three big-name players on expiring contracts: Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand.

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad signs an eight-year deal with a $6.1 million AAV with the Florida Panthers. Harman Dayal: Ekblad’s passionate rant about what it meant to him to be a Florida Panther during the Stanley Cup Final foreshadowed his willingness to take a sweetheart discount.