Tampa Bay’s Scott Sabourin four games and J.J. Moser two games; Lightning fined 100,000 and coach Jon Cooper 25,000 after a penalty-laden preseason finale with Florida. Six Lightning AHL call-ups from Syracuse piled up 77 penalty minutes as chaos dominated the game, which featured 65 penalties, 13 game misconducts and 312 total penalty minutes.

Ekblad left early but practiced Monday and is expected to play Tuesday against Chicago. Moser’s boarding on Boqvist and a tangle surrounding Niko Mikkola’s earlier ejection produced a disallowed Boqvist goal and a night where benches swelled and focus shifted from hockey to discipline, setting a sharp contrast ahead of the season opener.

NHL offseason reshapes the balance of power with major deals and long term bets. Niko Mikkola stays in Florida for eight years, Kirill Kaprizov lands a record 136 million extension in Minnesota, and Luke Hughes signs a 63 million pact with New Jersey. Barkov's knee surgery clouds the Panthers top line, while Tkachuk headlines the NHL 26 cover for EA Sports, fueling fantasy hype.

Carolina locks in Jackson Blake with a 45 million extension as the league opens with a Panthers vs Blackhawks triple header. A new CBA through 2029-30 shores up contract certainty even as hall of famers Bernie Parent and Eddie Giacomin pass away. For fantasy managers, these moves highlight Panthers stability on D, Kaprizov's elite upside, and the importance of depth and health entering 2025-26.

Watch for how these long deals influence line combinations, PP time distribution, and rookie development signals. The year ahead features a crowded impact landscape, with secure stars anchoring fantasy rosters and younger players pushing for increased roles as teams balance risk and reward.

Florida Panthers routed the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-0 in a preseason clash that turned into a penalties symphony, with 65 infractions for 312 minutes and 13 game misconducts. The chaos overshadowed the score as off-ice officials wiped a late eighth goal after realizing Niko Mikkola had been ejected earlier in the period. The night highlighted the rivalry’s edge and left fantasy managers eyeing how discipline and line changes could shape early-season roles.

Key moments included Scott Sabourin’s 19-second major on Aaron Ekblad and a flurry of power plays for Florida (17 chances). Jesper Boqvist scored what would have been the eighth Panthers goal before the tally was ruled off, underscoring the unpredictable nature of preseason optics as the teams prepare for the regular season.

Florida Panthers lock in Niko Mikkola for eight years and $40 million, keeping him through the 2033-34 season, with the deal set to begin next year. His presence anchors Florida’s back end as the core around Barkov, Tkachuk, Lundell and a veteran group stays locked into multi-year deals, reinforcing a championship window after consecutive Stanley Cups. Mikkola’s speed and physicality add a dependable two-way element, with prior NHL playoff pedigree and a history with the Rangers and Blues.

The extension cements a trusted defenseman as part of a long-term plan, and that stability matters for a team aiming to contend well into the 2030s. The Finnish blueliner could also factor into Finland’s Olympic plans for 2026 Milan-Cortina.