Rats Roundup: Heponiemi Signs, Select-A-Seat

Good morning and welcome to the latest edition of Rats Roundup!
Aleksi Heponiemi signed his entry-level contract, Select-A-Seat is here and more! Sit back, relax and catch up on all the latest Panthers news!

Heponiemi Signs

On Wednesday, prospect Aleksi Heponiemi agreed to terms on a 3-year, entry level contract with the Panthers.
Originally selected in the second round (40th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, the young Finnish forward just completed his first professional season as a member of Kärpät of Finland's Liiga. He produced 46 points (16-30-46) in 50 games.
On the international stage, Heponiemi won a gold medal with Finland at the 2019 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship registering a tournament-leading nine points and six assists.
To read more on Heponiemi's WHL career, click HERE.

Select-A-Seat

Want to choose your seats for the 2019-20 season? Then join us for our annual Select-A-Seat event at BB&T Center this Saturday from 10AM-2PM.
Fans can take an exclusive tour of the Panthers locker room, have a beer on us and check out all of the different viewing areas the arena has to offer. Walk ins are welcome, but to ensure your spot please make sure to RSVP HERE.
With the arrival of Stanley Cup-winning head coach Joel Quenneville, to the ascension of Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau as super stars, the 2019-20 season is shaping up to be one you won't want to miss!

NHL Fan Choice Awards

The NHL Fan Choice awards are here and there are three categories where you can vote for your favorite Cats!
Fans might remember this little move by Aleksander Barkov, which is nominated for Goal of the Year:

Jonathan Huberdeau and Keith Yandle are nominated for Best Handshake:
And Aaron Ekblad is nominated for Best Beard:

Vote now and vote as often as you'd like HERE.

Back to Tulsa

For the second consecutive season, the Panthers will travel to Tulsa, OK to take on the Dallas Stars at the BOK Center for a neutral site preseason game on September 21 at 7:00 CT.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public for the game on Friday, May 17 at 10:00 a.m. CT and can be purchased online by visiting
www.bokcenter.com
.
The rest of the Cats preseason schedule will be released in the coming months.

World Championship

With the 2019 IIHF World Championship in full swing, it's time to check in on how the Cats are faring overseas.
Through the first seven days of the tournament, Evgenii Dadonov has been a bright spot for Team Russia, notching six points -all goals- in four games. His goals also currently stand as the most in the tournament.
Frank Vatrano has tallied two points (1G, 1A) and is a +4 through Team USA's first four games and Vincent Praplan has garnered six points (1G, 5A) for Team Switzerland in four games.
To stay up to date with the latest schedule, stay tuned to
FloridaPanthers.com/worlds
.
See the following for this weekend's games:
Friday, May 17:
2:15 p.m. ET: Finland (Lammikko) vs. Great Britain
Saturday, May 18:
6:15 a.m. ET: Denmark vs. USA (Vatrano)
6:15 a.m. ET: Latvia vs. Russia (Dadonov)
2:15 p.m. ET: Sweden vs. Switzerland (Praplan)
Sunday, May 19:
10:15 a.m. ET: Germany vs. USA (Vatrano)
2:15 p.m. ET: France vs. Finland (Lammikko)
2:15 p.m. ET: Switzerland (Praplan) vs. Russia (Dadonov)

Quick Hitters

• Listen to Dale Tallon on the NHL's Executive Suite Podcast!

• Keith Yandle and family compete on everyone's favorite 90's game show, Double Dare Live! in Fort Lauderdale, FL

-
Season Rewind: Frank Vatrano

-
Season Rewind: Evgenii Dadonov.

• Panthers Senior Vice President Shawn Thornton joins this week's episode to talk about his own experiences in the NHL playoffs, creating a beer with the Funky Buddha Brewery and more!
  - The Cats and Fox Sports television broadcaster Steve Goldstein came together for the 19th annual Goldie's Gang Golf Tournament.