Carter Verhaeghe

Carter Verhaeghe Bio

Carter Verhaeghe is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the third round, 82nd overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. After playing for the minor league affiliates of the Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, he made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Verhaeghe won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Lightning in 2020, and later signed as a free agent with the Panthers. He achieved further success by winning a second Stanley Cup with Florida in 2024 and a third in 2025, making history as the first player to win the prestigious trophy with both teams from the state of Florida.

Early Life and Background

Carter Verhaeghe was born on August 14, 1995, in Waterdown, Ontario, Canada, to parents Thomas and Karen. His father introduced him to the sport of ice hockey, and he credits both parents for their influence on his career. Verhaeghe began skating at a young age and played organized hockey through the Flamborough Hockey Association before joining the Hamilton Junior Bulldogs and Halton Hurricanes. His family briefly lived in Toronto, where he became a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and admired player Mats Sundin. Growing up, Verhaeghe and his sister Victoria participated in hockey, lacrosse, and soccer, showcasing their athletic talents.

Path to Hockey

During his high school years, Verhaeghe competed with the St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Crusaders in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic league, where he played alongside future NHL player Mark Jankowski. Together, they helped the Crusaders clinch the 2010 Hamilton Junior Cup. Verhaeghe also played for the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs during the 2010–11 minor midget season, where he tallied an impressive 34 goals and 64 points in 45 games. Following that season, he was drafted 38th overall in the 2011 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection by the Niagara IceDogs. Verhaeghe joined the IceDogs immediately after the draft and accumulated 16 points during the 2011–12 season, despite limited playing time on a strong team. He began to find his scoring touch in his second season, posting 44 points in 67 games, which led to his selection in the third round of the 2013 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Carter Verhaeghe Career

Early Career (2014–2019)

After being drafted, Carter Verhaeghe signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 2, 2014. He immediately joined the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the season. In his final junior season with the IceDogs in 2014–15, Verhaeghe served as captain and matched his previous season’s scoring totals, finishing with 82 points. Prior to his first professional season, he was traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for Michael Grabner. Verhaeghe spent the next two seasons with the Islanders’ affiliates, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Missouri Mavericks. In the 2017–18 season, he secured a top six scoring role with the Syracuse Crunch, the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 48 points in 58 games.

Breakthrough (2019–2020)

In the 2018–19 season, Verhaeghe captured the AHL scoring title with 82 points, becoming the first player in Crunch history to achieve this milestone. He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Lightning on July 5, 2019, and made the team’s opening night roster. Verhaeghe made his NHL debut on October 3, 2019, and recorded his first career NHL goal and multi-point game on December 7, 2019. He scored his first NHL hat trick on January 7, 2020. Verhaeghe’s breakout performance continued into the playoffs, where he contributed to the Lightning’s Stanley Cup victory in 2020.

Notable Works and Milestones

Verhaeghe’s career has been marked by significant achievements, including winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020. After becoming a restricted free agent, he signed a two-year contract with the Florida Panthers on October 9, 2020. His performance in the 2020–21 season solidified his reputation as a clutch player, scoring 36 points in 43 games.

Carter Verhaeghe Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Carter Verhaeghe has garnered recognition for his contributions on the ice, particularly during playoff seasons.

Carter Verhaeghe Awards Won

Verhaeghe has won multiple Stanley Cups, including his first with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and two additional championships with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025.