Huberdeau signs 6-year, $35.4M extension with Panthers

Jonathan Huberdeau's agent confirms the Florida Panthers have signed the forward to a six-year, $35.4-million UScontract extension.

Agent Allan Walsh confirmed the deal Tuesday in a message to The Associated Press.

Huberdeau's six-year deal goes into effect for the 2017-18 NHL season and has a salarycap hit of $5.9 million.

The 23-year-old left-wingerfrom Saint-Jerome, Que., posted a career-high 20 goals and 59 points last season while matching his career best in assists with 39, set during the 2014-15 campaign.

"Jonathan is a highly talented and dynamic player who is another important piece of our team's young core," Panthers president of hockey operations Dale Tallon said in a statement released by the team. "In each of his last two seasons he has posted over 50 points and has developed into a key component of our team's offence."

Huberdeau, who ranked second on the Panthers a year ago with 174 shots, added a goal and three points in the post-season.

In 272NHL regular-season contests, he has58 goals and 114 assists for 172 points.

Huberdeau, signed through the 2022-23 season, is the latest player to sign long term with Florida.

Defencemen Aaron Ekblad(signed through2025),Keith Yandle(2023)along with forwardsAleksander Barkov,Vincent Trocheck and winger Reilly Smith (all through 2022) are the others.

The Panthers won the Atlantic Division last season, reaching the playoffs for the second time since 2000. They open training camp later this month.