**Panthers Star Carter Verhaeghe Secures Eight-Year Contract Extension**

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers have locked in their leading playoff goal scorer, Carter Verhaeghe, with an eight-year contract extension starting in the 2025-26 season. Florida Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager, Bill Zito, expressed immense satisfaction over the new deal, highlighting Verhaeghe's transformation into one of the NHL’s most elite forwards and a relentless player on the ice.

Verhaeghe, 29, recorded an impressive 72 points during the 2023-24 season, including career highs with 38 assists, 8 power-play goals, 7 game-winning goals, and a points-per-game rate of .95. Known for his ability to score even-strength goals, Verhaeghe matched Olli Jokinen with his third season of at least 20 even-strength goals and led the Panthers with 19 third-period goals.

In the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Verhaeghe was pivotal, leading Florida with 11 goals and ranking third on the team with 21 points. Notably, he netted the series-opening goal in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, marking his 10th career game-winning playoff goal and his third of that postseason. This achievement positioned him among an elite group in NHL history, being one of the few to score the first two game-winning goals in a Stanley Cup Final for a franchise.

Verhaeghe's postseason success is notable, leading the Panthers in all-time playoff goals (26), even-strength goals (21), and game-winning goals (10). His critical goals include two series-clinching overtime winners, with one against Washington in 2022 and another against Boston in 2023, demonstrating his clutch performance in high-stakes moments.

Since joining the NHL, Verhaeghe has skated in 330 games and accumulated 249 points. Over the last two seasons, he has consistently surpassed 30 goals and 70 points, and he leads the Panthers in even-strength goals over the past three campaigns, with a remarkable cumulative plus-minus rating of plus-75.

Verhaeghe’s hockey journey began with the Niagara Ice Dogs in the Ontario Hockey League, where he served as captain in his final season and led in points for two consecutive seasons. Internationally, he earned a gold medal with Canada at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championship.

Originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013, Verhaeghe's career has soared, culminating in this significant commitment from the Florida Panthers.