SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers are keeping another key member of their championship core in South Florida.
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The team announced Tuesday that center Eetu Luostarinen has agreed to an eight-year contract extension that will begin with the 2027-28 season. Financial terms were not immediately disclosed.
“Eetu has been a key piece of our two Stanley Cup championships, and we’re thrilled he’ll continue his career with the Panthers,” President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Zito said in a statement. “His commitment to playing a strong two-way game and contributing on the penalty kill has been critical to our success.”
Luostarinen, 27, appeared in 73 games during the 2025-26 season, recording 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points — the second-highest point total of his NHL career.
He led Florida’s forwards in shorthanded ice time with nearly 140 minutes, blocked 57 shots and averaged a career-best 16:34 of ice time per game. He also ranked fifth on the team with 121 hits.
Since joining the Panthers in 2020, Luostarinen has become one of the club’s most reliable defensive forwards. Over 447 career NHL games with Florida and the Carolina Hurricanes, he has totaled 61 goals and 101 assists for 162 points.
His impact has also carried into the postseason. Luostarinen has recorded 34 points in 73 playoff games with the Panthers and played a significant role in both of the franchise’s Stanley Cup-winning runs.
During Florida’s 2025 championship run, he set career highs with five goals, 14 assists and 19 points in 23 playoff games. He also owns the franchise record for most points in a road playoff game after tallying a goal and three assists against Tampa Bay in Game 5 of the opening round on April 30, 2025.
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Internationally, the Finland native won a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, collecting four assists in six games. He also captured gold at the 2019 IIHF World Championship and represented Finland at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.
Gudas, Petrovic return
The Panthers are bringing back two familiar faces on the blue line, agreeing to a six-year contract with veteran defenseman Radko Gudas and a two-year-deal with Alexander Petrovic, according to multiple reports.
Gudas’ deal is worth $9 million, carrying an average annual value of $1.5 million.
Gudas, 36, returns to Florida after serving as captain of the Anaheim Ducks for the past two seasons. The Panthers acquired his negotiating rights earlier this week in a trade that sent the rights to forward A.J. Greer to Anaheim, allowing the two sides to reach an agreement before free agency opened.
Petrovic, 34, played in 54 regular-season games with the Dallas Stars during the 2025-26 season, totaling two goals and eight assists for 10 points. He also ranked second among the team’s defensemen with 88 hits.
The exact terms of his deal were not disclosed.
“Alex is a stalwart shutdown defenseman who brings size and depth to our blueline,” said Zito. “We are excited to welcome him back to our organization.”
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Edmonton, Alberta, native has appeared in 323 NHL games over 10 seasons with the Panthers, Edmonton Oilers and Stars. Across his career, he has recorded seven goals, 53 assists and 60 points, while adding 411 penalty minutes, 731 hits and 384 blocked shots.
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