RENTON, Wash. Alonzo Mourning Jersey . -- Earl Thomas is the latest member of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to be locked up for the future. The best free safety in the NFL is getting rewarded quite well. Thomas and the Seahawks reached agreement Monday on a $40 million, four-year contract extension with just over $27.7 million guaranteed, according to two people with knowledge of the agreement. They spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because there had been no announcement from the team. The agreement was first reported by NFL.com. Thomas, a two-time first-team All-Pro, could have gone into the 2014 season with free agency on the horizon. Instead, Seattle made sure to keep the most important cog of its defence through the 2018 season. Its the latest move in a strong off-season for the defending champions. While there were losses in free agency and difficult roster decisions with expensive veterans released, Seattle re-signed defensive end Michael Bennett before free agency began, then locked up coach Pete Carroll with an extension through 2016. The debate was whether Seattle could get a long-term deal done with either Thomas or cornerback Richard Sherman before either became a free agent after the 2014 season. Thomas deal is finished and the Seahawks can turn their attention toward trying to get a deal done with Sherman and solidifying three-fourths of the top secondary in the NFL for years to come. Strong safety Kam Chancellor is already signed through the 2017 season. Thomas was Seattles second first-round pick in the 2010 draft, the first with Carroll and general manager John Schneider leading the franchise. Its turned out to be one of the most important selections the team has made since starting a makeover with the duo in charge of moulding the Seahawks into a championship club. "Earl is as serious a competitor as you could ever hope to be around. He is in it, and hes on it and dialed in," Carroll said before the Super Bowl. Thomas was Seattles second-leading tackler last season and added five interceptions, but its what his presence allows the Seahawks to do defensively that underscores his value. His speed in coverage and recognition in the secondary are among the best in the game. Much of what Seattle wants to do defensively is predicated on having Thomas on the roster. At one point early in his career, Carroll had to threaten Thomas with benching because he was trying to do too much. Thomas was getting out of position and being undisciplined in his assignments. As he matured, those mistakes became harder to find. Thomas recognition of what opponents were trying to run became so good that he could play alone in the back of Seattles defence. Often this past season, the Seahawks were able to move Chancellor closer to the line of scrimmage and ask Thomas to patrol the back end by himself. He did that job at an elite level and earned his second straight All-Pro selection. "In this defence, I think me and Kam do a lot. Sometimes dirty work, sometimes a lot of game-changing plays," Thomas said during Super Bowl week. "Everybody on the defence understands that. Thats why this defence is so compatible with each other. Its selfless guys. "Were going to put everything on the line for each other. Love is the highest frequency we have and we understand that, and thats what its all about. When youre filled up with gratitude, its a genuine appreciation for everybody around you. Thats the way I love it." Thomas has 15 career interceptions in the regular season and two more in the playoffs. Thomas will still only be 29 years old when his new deal expires after the 2018 season. Shaquille ONeal Heat Jersey . With the Canadiens leading by one to start the third period, Price turned away 16 shots by the Panthers in the final frame to give Montreal a 2-1 victory over Florida on Monday night. The Panthers (16-21-6) outshot Montreal 16-10 in the final frame, but were repeatedly frustrated by Price, who made 26 saves on the night. Glen Rice Heat Jersey . -- Michael Bennett gambled last off-season that playing on a one-year deal in Seattle would pay off in the future with the long-term contract he always wanted. https://www.heatlockerroom.com/Duncan-Robinson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Toronto ended an 0-4-0 skid with Sundays shootout win over visiting New Jersey, but the club could have a difficult time making it two victories in a row tonight. The Maple Leafs have dropped three straight and 11 of the last 12 regular- season meetings against Boston overall and the Bruins have claimed six straight in Beantown.Every night of the Stanley Cup playoffs, TSN hockey analyst and former NHL goaltender Jamie McLennan breaks down each goalies performance. Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Tuukka Rask, Boston (4) - Outstanding in first period, gave Boston chance to settle in, big saves on Datsyuk and Tatar in second period to keep it close at 2-1. Robbed Abdelkader in OT, cant stress enough how poised he is in the net, makes it look easy, and rarely out of position. Jonas Gustavsson, Detroit (4) - Surprise start, responded well, especially not busy early but showed great poise, no chance on first goal as it was tipped in front. Not overly challenged but got better and more confident as the game went on, Big saves on Soderberg and Eriksson in OT, no chance on the game winner as it was deflected twice. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles (4) - Locked in early on, with big saves on Burns and Pavelski, explosive saves on Marleau and Vlasic in the third to preserve the lead. He better managed his crease, not as erratic and out of control as we have seen last few games. Antti Niemi, San Jose (2) - Big saves onn King and Richards early in game, second goal was stoppable based on a tough angle shot that he is unable to corral, had rebound issues all night long that cost him, not as sharp as he has been in past games. Goran Dragic Heat Jersey. Semyon Varlamov, Colorado (4) - Putting a show on again, the only reason the Avs were in the game after the first period. His crease work is so fast and explosive, very tough to beat him low as well as in tight. Parise, Koivu, McCormick, Spurgeon, Brodziak, Granlund, Moulson (three times) and Pominville for starters had great chances, not much chance on both goals on a one-timer from slot and bad bounce off the back board. He is the only reason this series has been close. Darcy Kuemper, Minnesota (4) - Tough mentally to watch the goalie at the other end standing on his head and face all the shots. He was not busy whatsoever, the goal looked to hit his own man in front and go five-hole, but showed poise when needed to get the win and saved his best work for the last few minutes with big saves on Benoit and OReilly. Had a few puck handling issues that almost cost him, but kept it on the rails, solid again. ' ' '