Kris Versteeg, Panthers avoid arbitration, agree to 4-year, $17.6 million deal
Kris Versteeg has been a man on the move the past two seasons. After winning a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, Versteeg was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Eight months later he was on the move again, this time as part of a deal to the Philadelphia Flyers. Then last summer Versteeg was one of Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon's slew of signings.
As of Monday, Versteeg can finally feel settled (pending inclusion of no-movement clause, of course) as he and the Panthers agreed to a 4-year deal just before they were scheduled for an arbitration hearing. Darren Dreger reports the deal is worth $4.4 million per season.
From the Panthers:
"Kris played an important role in our club's success last season and we are pleased to have reached a long-term contract agreement with him," said [GM Dale] Tallon. "He is a skilled player who recorded career highs in goals and points last season, while playing on our top line alongside Stephen Weiss and Tomas Fleischman. We look forward to his continued offensive production, as well as his off-ice contributions in the South Florida community."
Versteeg has been a 20-goal scorer in each of his four NHL seasons, including a career high 23 last season with the Panthers. Good things happened when Versteeg scored as Florida went 14-1-2 when he potted a goal.
With Versteeg's deal done and Kaspars Daugavins and the Ottawa Senators agreeing to a 1-year, $635,000 deal before their scheduled hearing on Monday, still left on the docket: Anton Stralman (July 24), Dale Weise (July 27) and Sergei Kostitsyn (August 2).
Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy
