Aaron Ekblad signed an eight-year, $48.8 million contract to remain with the Florida Panthers on Monday. It has an average annual value of $6.1 million.

The Panthers brought the star trio of Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand back with new contracts, keeping the core of the Stanley Cup champions together.

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.’