The Florida Panthers are just over a week removed from hoisting the Stanley Cup for the second time in as many years. One of the biggest stories from the title run was none other than Conn Smythe Trophy winner and impending free agent Sam Bennett, whose postseason heroics likely lifted the asking price of his next contract by a significant amount.
The question of whether the defending champions could retain their award-winner quickly became one of the top headlines of the young offseason. On Friday, that query was answered as Bennett inked an eight-year extension worth $8 million in AAV to remain with the Panthers, per ESPN.
The speed with which Florida moved to offer Bennett a long-term deal provides some strong implications of how the franchise views the forward. Bennett, 29, tallied 22 points in 23 playoff games and was an essential cog in the Panthers’ journey to the Stanley Cup victory. He netted 15 goals throughout the postseason, six of which came against the Edmonton Oilers in the Final. Dating back to Florida’s first trip to the Cup in 2022-23, Bennett amassed 51 points across 62 total playoff games — his status as a postseason player remains solidified after his latest showing.
The forward brings a great blend of physical play and scoring prowess to the table. For those unfamiliar with his game, just watch this incredible shift from this year’s Stanley Cup Final.
Granted, this extension seemed a foregone conclusion once Bennett joined an “eight more years” chant while celebrating the Stanley Cup victory with Panthers teammates and fans. With the star now locked in, the franchise must feel relieved about retaining one of their key pieces from this dynastic iteration of the team.
The question now becomes whether they can keep defenseman Aaron Ekblad and winger Brad Marchand, two other impending free agents rumored to hold a litany of potential suitors on the open market. It does feel as though Florida GM Bill Zito will prioritize Ekblad, a longtime Panther drafted by the team back in 2014. The veteran remains central to the team’s identity and grinding style of play, so a move to keep one of their own makes plenty of sense. Re-signing Marchand, a Conn Smythe contender acquired at the trade deadline, is another story.
Keeping Bennett around for the long-foreseeable future only boosts the Panthers’ odds of repeating once again as title contenders. DraftKings Sportsbook currently lists the team as favorites to win the 2025-26 Stanley Cup at +600 odds — with or without Ekblad and Marchand, they aren’t going to fall too far down the board anytime soon.
Only three teams in NHL history have ever successfully three-peated in the Stanley Cup Final, with the last series of three straight wins coming courtesy of the New York Islanders from 1980-84 (a stretch of four consecutive Cup victories). It’s understandable why the Panthers are in the running to join such an elite club, but what the journey there requires will become much more clear following free agency over the next few weeks.
