The Florida Panthers have given head coach Gerard Gallant a two-year contract extension.

Gallant has one year remaining on his existing deal, so he is now under contract for three years after this season. 

"We are pleased to agree with Gerard on a multi-year extension," Vice President and General Manager Dale Tallon said. "He has done an excellent job of creating a winning culture and developing our young players in his time with the Panthers. He is an ideal fit for our group and we look forward to having him lead our team as we work towards our goal of winning the Stanley Cup."

Currently in his second season as head coach of the Panthers, Gallant led Florida to its most successful month in franchise history in December recording a 11-3-0 record and 22 points, while tying a franchise record with a seven-game winning streak. The Panthers currently are second in the Atlantic Division, fourth in the Eastern Conference and own a 21-12-4 record (46 points).

"I'm thrilled to be signing an extension with the Panthers," Gallant said. "I want to thank our owner Vinnie Viola and his partner Doug Cifu for the confidence they have placed in me and their continued support. We've started to build a strong foundation with a great staff and group of players here in Florida. We want to continue to build on the recent success we've had and create a winning team for years to come."

The 52-year-old, Summerside, Prince Edward Island native was hired by Florida on June 21, 2014. During his first season behind the bench the Panthers were the most improved team in the NHL. Gallant guided the Panthers to a 38-29-15 record and 91 points, a 25-point improvement from the club's previous season.