Florida Panthers Opening Night Set

     The National Hockey League announced the contests for opening night to begin the 2024-25 regular season. The Florida Panthers will be involved in one of three contests to be held on October 8. 

     Florida will have their season opener at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise against the Boston Bruins. The Panthers will have a pregame ceremony to raise their 2023-24 Stanlcy Cup Champion banner to the rafters. 

     The Cats and the Bruins have created a great Atlantic Division rivalry over the past two seasons. The Panthers overtook the B's in the final two regular season games in 2023-24 to take the Atlantic Division title. Florida upset the Bruins, who won the Presidents' Trophy and best regular season in NHL history, in 2023 during the first round coming back from a 3-1 game deficit to win the series. The Panthers knocked off Boston in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in six games during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Brandon Montour Leaves Florida Panthers

     Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour will not be returning to the team. He will sign a seven-year contract with the Seattle Kraken worth $50 million. 

     Montour was with the Panthers for the past four seasons. He was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in April 2021. Montour contributed to the team winning two Atlantic Division titles, one Presidents' Trophy, two Eastern Conference crowns and a Stanley Cup championship. 

     He had his best season with Florida in 2022-23 with 16 goals and 57 assists for 73 points in 80 games. Montour was limited to 60 games this past season due to overcoming an off-season injury and compiled 33 points in 66 contests. 

Dmitry Kulikov Remains With Panthers

     Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov has agreed to a four-year contract worth $4.6 million. He will continue his second stint with the club. 

     Kulikov rejoined the Panthers for the 2023-24 season as a free agent. He ended up with an Atlantic Division crown and a Stanley Cup title last season with the organization. Kulikov chalked up one goal and 19 assists for 20 points during 76 contests in 2023-24. 

     He had his first stint with the Panthers from 2009-10 until 2015-16 and helped the club capture their first two division titles in 2012 and 2016. Kulikov later played for the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Sam Reinhart Staying With Florida Panthers

     Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart will be remaining with the team for a very long time. He has signed a maximum eight-year deal worth $69 million. It will cost the Panthers $8.625 million per season on their salary cap through the 2031-32 campaign. 

     Reinhart finished with the third highest total of goals during a regular season in team history with 57 goals in 2023-24. He scored the game-winning goal in the second period of Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final last week to help the team capture their first Stanley Cup title in Florida Panthers franchise history. He became the fourth player in NHL history to score at least 50 goals in the regular season and score the Stanley Cup clinching goal.

     He played his first seven NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. Reinhart was traded to the Panthers on July 24, 2021. The team has won back-to-back Atlantic Division titles, one Presidents' Trophy, two Eastern Conference titles and a Stanley Cup while he has been in Florida. 

Kevin Love Re-Signing With Heat

     Miami Heat forward Kevin Love will be re-signing with the club. It is expected to be a two-year contract abound $8 million between him and the team. 

     Love joined the Heat late in the 2022-23 campaign. He helped the team win the Eastern Conference title that season. Love averaged 8.8 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game during 2023-24. He captured an NBA title while with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. 

Chase Priskie With Capitals

     Former Florida Panthers forward Chase Priskie will remain with the Washington Capitals signing a two-way, one-year deal worth $775,000. He played with their American Hockey League affiliate the Hershey Bears last season and captured the Calder Cup.

     Priskie, a Pembroke Pines native, was once in the Florida Panthers organization. He participated in four games with the team in 2021-22 and compiled no points. 

NBA Salary Cap

     The National Basketball Association announced on Sunday the salary cap for next season. it will go into effect as of July 1. 

     The salary cap has been set at $140.588 million for the 2024-25 campaign. The tax level will be at $170.814 million. 

     The salary cap floor for all 30 NBA teams will be $126.529 million. The first tax apron level is $178.132 million while the second tax apron is at $188.931 million. 

     There will be three different mid-level exceptions depending on a team's salary level. The non-taxpayer mid-level is $12.822 million, the taxpayer mid-level is $5.168 million and the mid-level for a club with room under the salary cap is $7.983 million.