Panthers keep another key core player, signing Eetu Luostarinen to 3-year extension
The Florida Panthers have locked up one of their underrated core players for the near future.
The Panthers on Tuesday announced they have agreed to terms on a three-year extension with Eetu Luostarinen. The extension begins with the 2024-25 season, putting the 24-year-old forward under contract through the 2026-27 season, and has an annual cap hit of $3 million. Luostarinen will make $1.5 million in the 2023-24 season before the extension and pay raise goes into effect.
Luostarinen had a breakout 2022-23 season on the way to the Panthers reaching the Stanley Cup Final for just the second time in franchise history. He set career highs in goals (17), assists (26) and points (43) over 82 regular-season games and added five points (two goals, three assists) in 16 playoff games. He did not play in the Stanley Cup Final due to injury.
Luostarinen’s biggest asset is his versatility. He played both center and on the wing this year depending on the Panthers’ need as injuries took a toll on the team’s depth at times. He generally played on Florida’s middle-six forward lines but moved up to top-line winger occasionally as well.
While Luostarinen doesn’t have the name recognition or cache of some of the Panthers’ top players such as Aleksander Barkov or Matthew Tkachuk, the up-and-coming forward proved to be vital for the Panthers on both sides of the ice.
According to the advanced hockey statistics website Natural Stat Trick, the Panthers allowed just 2.08 goals per 60 minutes in 5-on-5 play when Luostarinen was on the ice. That was the best rate among all of Florida’s regular forwards.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Panthers’ goals scored per 60- minutes at full strength when Luostarinen is on the ice was 3.32, trailing only Tkachuk (4.76), Carter Verhaeghe (3.55) and Barkov (3.51) among Florida forwards.
His defensive prowess was key on the Panthers’ penalty kill throughout the season. He led Panthers forwards in short-handed time on ice this season (193:37).
He led Florida forwards with 51 blocked shots and was second to Barkov with 47 takeaways.
“Eetu is a dynamic two-way center whose speed and strength allow him to excel on any line,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said in a press release. “His consistency and dependability are a great asset to our forward group, and we are excited about what he can continue to bring to our lineup in the coming seasons.”
This story was originally published July 25, 2023 at 10:36 AM.
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