Overview
- The Florida Panthers announced a two-year, two-way contract extension with 24-year-old Cooper Black, who has played primarily for the AHL Charlotte Checkers.
- Reported figures from PuckPedia, cited in coverage, put the NHL cap hit at $875,000 and the average AHL salary at $275,000 but those numbers were not released by the team.
- Black posted a 25-13-4 record with a .903 save percentage in the AHL regular season and has a 36-18-6 career AHL record that includes four shutouts.
- With Black signed, the Panthers now have three goaltenders under contract for 2026–27 (Black, Kirill Gerasimyuk, Tyler Muszelik) while Sergei Bobrovsky, Daniil Tarasov, and Louis Domingue remain unsigned free agents.
- The signing preserves an internal depth option and roster flexibility but media coverage projects Black will likely serve as AHL or third-string depth rather than start the next NHL season, which could push the club to pursue an experienced starter in free agency or by trade.