Sam Bennett's Free Agency Buzz: Florida Panthers Push for New Deal

Sam Bennett is about to become one of the hottest free agents in the NHL, although he will probably stay with the Florida Panthers. The speculation about his future gets hotter as his contract expires after July 1. On the other hand, some reports have recently come to note that the Panthers have resumed their negotiations for contracts with him.

Sam Bennett, 28, is wrapping up this final year of four years on a $17.7 million contract, carrying a cap hit of $4.425 million. Since joining the Panthers through a trade in 2021 from the Calgary Flames, he has established himself as an important cog in the system. The combination of offensive prowess and physicality makes him indispensable.

Over 278 games in Florida, Bennett has scored 92 goals and added 98 assists. In the playoffs, he has scored a prolific 37 points from 54 postseason games. Bennett was for the Panthers in their 2024 Stanley Cup run as he notched 14 points in 19 playoff games while leading with 87 hits.
He is characteristic of a blend of very skillful, gritty, and very leadership qualities. This indeed makes him valuable in all battles and in deepest playoffs. Bennett plays a dual game and can thus contribute in all areas. He can show up in scores or just through relentless forechecking; in the end, it's all Bennett. Florida has depended greatly on him for delivering such important moments, and unfortunately, his departure leaves that squad one massive gap.
Once again, Bennett has proven to be up to the challenge with 22 goals and 45 points in 65 games this season. His combination of offensive flair and toughness would bolster any team's roster, hence why he is attracting teams' interest, with the Maple Leafs reported to be one of the interested teams. However, Panthers GM Bill Zito has made it very clear that he wants both Sam Bennett and other pending free agents, Aaron Ekblad, to stay in Florida. The front office is negotiating actively to secure such a deal before free agency begins.
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Sam Bennett's future is uncertain due to the coming free agency, but the Florida Panthers are doing anything possible to ensure that they will be able to acquire him. An agreement may be in sight before July 1 if the negotiations are back on course. Should this fail, however, other NHL teams will certainly be lining up to claim a talented forward?