While most Panthers fans have grown to love him over the last three seasons and some are expecting more production out of the highly touted young 22-year old defenseman, Erik Gudbranson is keeping his talents in Sunrise for another two years. The Florida Panthers extended the restricted costless agent to a two-year/$5 million deal last Thursday. General Manager Dale Tallon states, "Erik is an important part of our young core of talented players who we are pleased to have signed. He is a big, strong and physical defenseman who is one of the building blocks for our team. We look forward to his continued development and his contributions to the South Florida community."
The young 6' 5" 210 lb. defender was drafted third overall by the Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He was scouted as a physical, intelligent, and while playing for the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League. Very much like Chris Pronger, whom every big hockey fan knows, was one of the most dominant defensemen throughout the mid-late 90s and 2000s. Erik was very much the kind of player that new general manager Dale Tallon was looking for in his first season as he attempts to rebuild a struggling NHL club that spent years in the cellar of the league for a decade. The Panthers sent him back to Juniors for one more season after being drafted where he scored 79 points in 148 games for the Frontenacs along with 242 penalty minutes.
Over the past three seasons in Florida, Erik has mostly lived up to what was advertised. He indeed has been one of the most physical players on the team and will never back down from a fight. Throughout his last three seasons with the Panthers, he has accumulated 239 penalty minutes. He has been one of the most vocal leaders on and off the ice and has become a quick fan favorite with his dedication to the organization and South Florida community. Many fans want to see him as a future captain in Florida for years to come. However, after being drafted third overall with high expectations and even though defensemen do take a few years to properly develop before they show results, many folks in Pantherland are a bit disappointed with his production. In 169 career games in Florida, he has just 21 points.
Erik is indeed part of the young core that Tallon is currently building to turn a struggling Florida franchise with one playoff berth since 2000 into a consistent contender. He joins a blueline with other young defenseman and restricted costless agents Dmitry Kulikov and Dylan Olsen. In addition, 2014 first overall pick Aaron Ekblad, veteran Brian Campbell, recently signed veteran Willie Mitchell are also on the Panthers defense. Some upcoming young defensemen in Florida's system to possibly join Gudbranson in the future are Michael Matheson, Jonathan Racine, Ian McCoshen, Michael Downing, and Mackenzie Weegar.
A two-year contract for Gudbranson should be a very good indicator for the Panthers for the future. Gudbranson will team with other young defensive prospects about to knock on the NHL's door within the next couple of seasons. Erik has shown promise with his team leadership and mature instincts that he is a player to continue to be given opportunities to. He has said publicly that he wants to be a long-term important piece for the future of Florida's rebuild. At 22-years old, there is still enough time to live up to his ideal position that the Panthers front office staff and fans hope from him. Time will tell and this should be a very key season for high expectations from the young physical blueliner.