Evan after back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, the Florida Panthers are not satisfied. Detroit's Atlantic Division rival has their core of talent locked up for the foreseeable future, and they are making it clear that the Eastern Conference runs through South Florida for 2025-26 and beyond.
So far this offseason, Florida has already re-signed Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand. Just days after hoisting Lord Stanley, Bennett signed an eight-year contract worth $8 million annually on June 27. Ekblad also won't be hitting the open market, as he inked an eight-year extension with an AAV of $6.1 million. Marchand's extension is for six years with an AAV of $5.25 million.
That means that the Panthers have locked up Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Vergaeghe, Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand, Seth Jones, Anton Lundell, and Gustav Forsling until at least 2030.
The Panthers have these players locked up through at least 2030:
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) June 30, 2025
Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, Brad Marchand, Seth Jones, Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling
Dynasty loading in South Florida 🐾
Red Wings fans disappointed Detroit missed out on Ekblad
Ekblad had been a name that Red Wings fans were hopeful to get this offseason. The combination of Ekblad and Moritz Seider would have made for an incredible 1-2 punch on the blue line. But, Ekblad is staying put, and Detroit has to look elsewhere.
There are still options out there for Steve Yzerman, and rumors are swirling around K'Andre Miller. Adding Miller to the equation would be a solid get for the Red Wings, especially after they brought back Albert Johansson on a contract extension last week. Simon Edvinsson has also made an impact for Detroit, and his future development will be exciting to watch in the coming seasons.
And don't forget - Axel Sandin-Pellikka is on the way, too. He is among the most exciting young talents in the league, and there's a legitimate chance he dons the Winged Wheel at some point this season.
What does Steve Yzerman have in store for free agency?
Teams in the Atlantic Division are getting better this offseason. Along with the Panthers, the Canadiens and Maple Leafs have made noteworthy transactions to shape their respective rosters in the last week.
The Red Wings have, too. Most notably, Detroit traded for veteran goaltender John Gibson and re-signed Patrick Kane. Those are great moves that Red Wings fans are excited about. But, the fan base is waiting for more.
What does Yzerman do next? Does he bring in a defenseman like Miller to solidify the blue line? Does he add a skilled winger like Nikolaj Ehlers to bolster the forward group? Does he trade for a big name like Jason Robertson?
One thing is clear - If Detroit wants to make a postseason run and try to keep up with teams like the Panthers, improvements are needed. Free agency is set to begin, and it will be interesting to see what direction Yzerman wants to go.
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