The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Michael Matheson to an eight-year contract extension worth $39 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

Matheson will play out the final season of his entry-level contract in 2017-18 before the extension kicks in.

The 23-year-old blue liner only has one full season under his belt, but it's quite clear the Panthers are willing to commit long-term to his upside. In 81 games last season, Matheson notched 17 points and ranked third on Florida's roster in ice time, averaging 21:03 per night.

With Matheson signed, the Panthers now have five players 25-years-old or younger under contract until 2022, per Cap Friendly.

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Jonathan Bernier couldn't lift his Colorado Avalanche to a victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon, but that doesn't mean his efforts weren't admirable.

The veteran goaltender made a spectacular stop on Devils defenseman Damon Severson early in the third period, recovering after being caught out of position and lunging across the crease to deny him with the trapper.

Here's another look at how much net Severson had to shoot at when he received the pass from Adam Henrique.

(Image courtesy: YouTube/Sportsnet/MSG+)

The play was briefly reviewed to determine if the puck crossed the line in Bernier's glove, but the save was ultimately upheld.

He made several more slick saves later in the period, finishing with 35 on 39 shots in the 4-1 defeat.

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Will Butcher's first regular-season game was a memorable one to say the least.

The New Jersey Devils rookie tallied three assists in the Devils' 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche setting a new franchise mark for most points by a player making their NHL debut.

He also became just the fifth defenseman in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to record three points in his first NHL contest.

In case all of that wasn't enough for the 22-year-old, Butcher accomplished the feat against the club that originally drafted him in the fifth round back in 2013 out of the U.S. National Development Team - before he elected to become a free agent and sign with the Devils this offseason.

That's got to sting.

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Erik Karlsson says he's getting closer to playing in a game, but it doesn't sound like that will happen anytime soon.

The Ottawa Senators superstar confirmed he will not suit up against the Detroit Red Wings as his club had hoped he might, while providing some further details about how his recovery is going.

"We're still fairly early in the process (and) I don't know if I've skated even 10 times yet," Karlsson told reporters Saturday afternoon, via TSN. "Once we get moving forward here, I think it's going to move along fairly fast, but ... there are still some small issues that (are) probably going to bother me (when) playing a game and playing against opponents (when I'm) going to be checked all the time."

The all-world defenseman had offseason surgery to repair tendons in his foot following the Senators' run to the Eastern Conference Final. He's made it clear he won't return until he's 100 percent healthy, a goal he doesn't appear close to reaching yet.

"I still haven't taken contact," Karlsson said Saturday. "I haven't (yet) done the things I need to do to put myself in (a) game situation."

However, he clarified that it might not be necessary for him to absorb contact in practice before appearing in a game.

"I think it's going to go straight from no contact to pretty much playing a game," Karlsson said. "When that is? We're not really sure yet, (but) we're not too far away."

After Saturday's contest, the Senators embark on a three-game Western Canadian road trip, but the dynamic blue-liner didn't seem certain he'd be able to join them.

"We're not sure yet," he said, according to TSN's Brent Wallace. "We haven't really thought that far (ahead), and ... that's something we'll (evaluate) probably (Sunday) when we leave. So, as of right now, it's still going to be day to day, and it's always fun to go out west, so we will see."

Karlsson added he hasn't ruled out joining the club mid-trip if he doesn't fly out with them initially.

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While Bryan Murray will be best remembered for his time with the Washington Capitals and Ottawa Senators, he also left an indelible impression on the Detroit Red Wings organization.

So much so that the Wings have decided to honor Murray by wearing a decal on their helmets Saturday against the aforementioned Senators. The sticker is the same one the Sens will be wearing all year to honor their former coach and general manager.

Murray - who died in August - spent three seasons behind the Wings' bench between 1990-1993, amassing a 124-91-29 record.

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The Calgary Flames appear to be asking for the moon.

In a Feb. 21 proposal leaked to The Globe and Mail, the Flames' ownership group of Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. requested that the city of Calgary grant it several revenue streams as part of an agreement to fund a new arena.

The proposal outlined a number of terms, including an option for the group to purchase and develop the surrounding land of the proposed facility.

The Flames would also receive a percentage of the revenues generated by the Calgary Stampede's Cowboys Casino and all of the arena parking fees, while the team also requested the city waive transit fees for those traveling to an arena event via public transportation.

Furthermore, the proposal asked for the team to be reimbursed for provincial taxes paid on the arena, and for the city to cover the cost of arena flood insurance.

"Our proposals in the enclosed term sheet outline the minimum requirements for a robust competitive sports environment and the infrastructure needed to compete on the world stage from an entertainment perspective," Flames president and CEO Ken King wrote to the city, per The Globe and Mail.

In a statement, King declared the leaked proposal "inappropriate," telling The Globe and Mail, "Somebody was playing fast and loose with their ethics and I think that's a damn shame."

With a deal appearing uncertain, King indicated last month that the Flames are no longer pursuing a new arena in Calgary. Both the team and city have since released their competing proposals for public consumption.

Whether the two sides will return to the negotiation table is unknown. However, talks could be revisited following the city's upcoming municipal vote, when incumbent mayor Naheed Nenshi, who opposed the Flames' proposal, is up for re-election.

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The Calgary Flames appear to be asking for the moon.

In a Feb. 21 proposal leaked to The Globe and Mail, the Flames' ownership group of Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. requested that the city of Calgary grant it several revenue streams as part of an agreement to fund a new arena.

The proposal outlined a number of terms, including an option for the group to purchase and develop the surrounding land of the proposed facility.

The Flames would also receive a percentage of the revenues generated by the Calgary Stampede's Cowboys Casino and all of the arena parking fees, while the team also requested the city waive transit fees for those traveling to an arena event via public transportation.

Furthermore, the proposal asked for the team to be reimbursed for provincial taxes paid on the arena, and for the city to cover the cost of arena flood insurance.

"Our proposals in the enclosed term sheet outline the minimum requirements for a robust competitive sports environment and the infrastructure needed to compete on the world stage from an entertainment perspective," Flames president and CEO Ken King wrote to the city, per The Globe and Mail.

In a statement, King declared the leaked proposal "inappropriate," telling The Globe and Mail, "Somebody was playing fast and loose with their ethics and I think that's a damn shame."

With a deal appearing uncertain, King indicated last month that the Flames are no longer pursuing a new arena in Calgary. Both the team and city have since released their competing proposals for public consumption.

Whether the two sides will return to the negotiation table is unknown. However, talks could be revisited following the city's upcoming municipal vote, when incumbent mayor Naheed Nenshi, who opposed the Flames' proposal, is up for re-election.

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When you're set to become the first-ever player from your country to suit up in the NHL, you get some props from your fellow countrymen.

Related: Nathan Walker to become 1st Australian to play in NHL

Such was the case for Australia-raised winger Nathan Walker, as the 23-year-old forward will take the ice Saturday for the Washington Capitals. Once he does, Walker will officially become the first Australian citizen to ever play in an NHL contest.

PGA golfers Jason Day and Adam Scott, as well as NBA players Andrew Bogut, Thon Maker, and Matthew Dellavedova all praised Walker ahead of his inaugural NHL game.

Last season with the AHL's Hershey Bears, the former third-round draft pick posted 23 points in 58 games.

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Boston Bruins forward Noel Acciari will be sidelined for approximately six weeks following surgery on his left index finger, the team announced Saturday.

Acciari suffered the injury in Thursday's season-opening game against the Nashville Predators, leaving early in the second period.

He was projected to fill a role on the team's fourth line this season. The 25-year-old split last season between the Bruins and the club's minor-league affiliate in Providence.

Acciari has tallied two goals and four assists in 49 NHL games.

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Amid an ongoing contract dispute, Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou is jetting for Europe.

On Friday, it was reported the pivot would begin skating with Lugano of the Swiss-based National League, which was later confirmed by Red Wings general manager Ken Holland.

"He called me today just to say that he is going to Europe," Holland told Greg Kruppa of The Detroit News. "Double-A’s going to Europe."

The highly publicized stalemate between the two sides has always had a European connection, with Athanasiou reportedly considering a lucrative one-year deal with a KHL-based club.

Since negotiations have dragged into the regular season, and with Detroit having minimal salary cap space for the 2017-18 campaign, it seems increasingly likely that Athanasiou will be spending more time in European rinks than on NHL ice surfaces.

Athanasiou has no commitment with any club overseas, but is weighing all his options.

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