Sam Bennett Stays with the Panthers: Signs Multi-Million Dollar Extension
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the playoffs for the Florida Panthers, Sam Bennett, kept his promise to the fans. During the Stanley Cup celebrations this week, he assured that he would not leave the team. Bennett has signed an eight-year contract extension with the Panthers, the team announced before the NHL draft on Friday night. He was expected to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, which would have made him one of the most sought-after centers on the market. Bennett’s new contract has an impact on the salary cap of $8 million annually, an increase from the $4.425 million of his previous contract. Despite this, the figure is lower than what other organizations were expected to offer the player as a free agent. The Panthers are one of several NHL teams that play in a state with no income tax, a factor that has gained relevance in the league, especially with the recent success of teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, and Vegas, all Stanley Cup winners. At 29 years old, Bennett scored 25 goals and provided 26 assists in 76 games during the regular season. His performance in the playoffs was even more outstanding: he achieved 11 goals and 12 assists (23 points) in 21 games. His physical play earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.Zito added that Bennett played a fundamental role in the team’s two Stanley Cup championships, winning the first Conn Smythe Trophy for the franchise and demonstrating his commitment to the South Florida community off the ice. “We are delighted that he will continue his career with the Panthers,” he concluded. In his 691 games with the Panthers and the Calgary Flames, a team from which Florida acquired him in 2021, Bennett has accumulated 162 goals and 174 assists. Bennett was one of three high-profile unrestricted free agents for the Panthers this offseason, along with winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.“Sam is a special player who has mastered a unique combination of skill and physique in his game, becoming one of the most impactful postseason players of his generation,” commented Panthers general manager Bill Zito.
Bill Zito
