The Florida Panthers announced Friday the club re-signed center Shawn Matthias to a two-year contract. Terms of the deal were not released, but TSN is reporting Matthias will make $1.75 million annually on the deal.
"I'm happy to get it out of the way," Matthias told the Panthers website. "The last contract I did, it was two days before camp, so it's nice to have it out of the way, and now I can just focus on training and getting ready for the season."
Matthias, 25, had a career-best 14 goals in 2012-13, and would have become a restricted free agent.
"A very good deal. He's improving and if he keeps improving, we've seen flashes of brilliance last year, now he's just got to get more consistent," general manager Dale Tallon said of Matthias. "He's fairly young, big (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), can skate and he's going to fit into what we have got coming as far as size and speed, he fits into what the plan is."
Matthias saw former housemate Stephen Weiss leave the Panthers to sign with the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.
"Obviously everyone knows that Stephen and I are pretty close. I lived at his house for a couple of years," Matthias said. "He's a special guy. He's been with the team for so long and he really cared about the Panthers. I'm sure it's a tough day for him. I learned a lot from him."
Matthias was chosen by the Red Wings in the second round (No. 47) of the 2006 NHL Draft; he was acquired by the Panthers as part of the 2007 trade that sent Todd Bertuzzi to the Red Wings.
In 253 NHL games, all with the Panthers, Matthias has 39 goals and 42 assists.
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