07/01/25 12:03:00
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07/01 12:01 CDT Panthers found a way to keep the core together, and Zito says
it was player-driven
Panthers found a way to keep the core together, and Zito says it was
player-driven
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) --- Bill Zito looked exhausted Tuesday. The Florida
Panthers' hockey operations president and general manager was trying to
schedule a fishing trip. He was trying to figure out how the next few weeks
will work. He needed a nap, desperately.
The good news: He can finally get a bit of a break.
The Panthers are running --- skating? --- it back next season, with all 12 of
the forwards that they used in the clinching game of the Stanley Cup Final
under contract for 2025-26 and in many cases long beyond.
The final moves came Tuesday, when the signings of Brad Marchand and Tomas
Nosek became officially official as Florida prepares to try and win a third
consecutive title next season.
And with that, Zito and the Panthers pulled off a stunning haul: They went into
free agency trying to figure out who among the trio of Sam Bennett, Aaron
Ekblad and Marchand could fit under the salary cap for next season --- and kept
them all.
It begged the obvious question Tuesday: How did he do this?
"I didn't. It was those guys," Zito said. "There's no gray area whatsoever.
This is 100% those guys wanting to be part of something that they created. We
kind of wax poetic about the team and the community that they've become. And I
think this is a great example of what it means to them. It's 100% those men who
made that decision that they all wanted to continue to try to win together."
Bennett took an eight-year deal worth $64 million, Ekblad took an eight-year
deal worth $48.6 million and Marchand took a six-year deal worth about $32
million. And much in the same way that Zito --- who has 10 players, most of the
team's biggest names, under contract through at least 2030 --- didn't want
credit, Ekblad deferred the credit for all of this happening as well.
"It speaks a lot about the organization and everything that they do for us and
how bad guys want to play here," Ekblad said. "Our practice rink, our game
rink, the hotels that we stay in on the road, the food that we eat ... the
organization does everything for us. It's easy to want to stay here. And then
the culture of winning is just a huge draw to guys, right? It's the most
important thing. It's why we play the game. And we've all been taken care of
extremely well."
Bennett, Ekblad and Marchand all could have commanded more on the open market;
the NHL's free agency period opened at noon Eastern on Tuesday, or about an
hour after Zito met with reporters inside the Panthers' theater at their new
practice facility. They chose to stay for less and try to win more.
It's a simple formula.
"It was always Florida," said Ekblad, who is now in position to potentially
spend the entirety of what could be a nearly two-decade career with the
Panthers. "I don't think you guys understand. Florida is home now."
Before that nap, Zito had a couple more things to monitor. The Panthers still
had a couple pursuits in free agency to tend to, but the core is built and in
place for years to come.
And that means, when he finally gets to sleep, Zito will sleep well.
"I think they see the players having fun, and enjoying hockey, and they know
how hard they work," Zito said. "I think they want to be part of that."
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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