Matheson receives 8-year extension
Defenseman offers durability along with versatility.
The Florida Panthers confirmed Monday what several outlets had been reporting since Saturday — they’ve signed minute-munching defenseman Mike Matheson to an eight-year extension.
While the Panthers didn’t announce actual money figures, the deal’s expected to be in the $39 million range. Matheson’s in the last year of his first contract.
Even before Matheson’s 2016-17 rookie season, Pan- thers general manager Dale Tallon saw the 2012 firstround pick as a durable, in even-strength minutes and do-it-all defenseman with had the second-most penperformance wheels. With alty-killing minutes among Aaron Ekblad on one defense all players. In 81 games, he pair a nd Matheson on scored seven goals, picked up another, the Panthers would 10 assists and had a minus 5 spend most of the game with plus/minus rating, third-best at least one high- end skat- among those with more than ing, puckhandling defense- 70 games played for the submen on the ice. .500 Panthers.
Indeed, the Panthers used After three seasons at BosMatheson like a workhorse ton College, Matheson ended Mustang — one used for the 2014-15 season with the school pickup Friday after- Panthers’ American Hockey noon and the drag strip FriLeague minor league affiliday night — during his rookie ate. He spent his first full pro season. He led defensemen season with AHL Portland.