Panthers sign Huberdeau to $35.4 million, 6-year extension

“Jonathan Huberdeau was the latest “” and perhaps final for the foreseeable future “” player to “Commit to the Cats” as the billboards say as the 23-year-old winger agreed to a six-year extension worth $35.4 million.

The Florida Panthers continue to do an unbelievable job of navigating through the salary cap in order to get their core players locked up for the future. With the extension, Huberdeau is now under team control through the 2022-23 season.

Huberdeau’s deal – which was confirmed Tuesday by agent Allan Walsh – gives the Panthers 10 players who are under National Hockey League contracts for at least the next four seasons.

Along with Barkov, who is signed through the end of the 2021-22 season, the Panthers have also signed Vincent Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad, Reilly Smith and Aaron Ekblad to long-term deals.

Already a team on the rise, the Panthers look like they could be ready to be one of the top Stanley Cup contenders in the Eastern Conference along with Pittsburgh, Washington and Tampa Bay.

Huberdeau’s six-year deal goes into effect for the 2017-18 season and has a salary-cap hit of $5.9 million.

The up-and-coming Panthers won the Atlantic Division last season with 103 points.

Huberdeau was essentially the last off-season question mark, at least in terms of when a new deal was coming. He set career highs in points (59) and goals (20) last season and tied his career high with 39 assists.

Florida selected Huberdeau with the third overall pick in the 2011 Entry Draft and has posted 172 points (58G/114A) in 272 career games with the Panthers.