Around the NHL: Panthers call Bennett complete package, Benn wants to stay with Stars, Toews/Kane reuniting?

The Stanley Cup Final kicks off this week as the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers have used a few days off to get as healthy as possible before their rematch. The two best teams have made it through each of their conferences, and have set up, what should be, an entertaining, fast-paced track meet, that will surely be a physical series from the opening puck drop Wednesday night.

Besides the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s plenty of storylines to follow off the ice, as the NHL Draft is creeping closer, and we’re less than one month away from free agency opening July 1st. The next six weeks are some of the busiest in hockey, and here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Florida Panthers praise Sam Bennett for having complete package

Panthers forward Sam Bennett is having the playoff run of a lifetime. The two-way centre has not only made a huge impact with his physical and defensive attributes, Bennett’s scored some massive goals for the Panthers so far this spring. He leads the playoffs with 10 goals, and his strong two-way play hasn’t gone unnoticed by his Panthers’ teammates.

“He’s everything you want in a player,” forward Carter Verhaeghe said, according to NHL.com’s Dan Rosen. “When it’s the most important time for your team, when you’re chasing a championship, that’s when you want to be at your best and be able to perform at your best. He’s one of those guys.”

Brad Marchand joined the Panthers late in the season via trade, and while Bennett’s normally one of his biggest rivals when he suited up for the Boston Bruins, Marchand is singing his praise after having a front-row seat to his complete game.

“He just does everything,” Marchand said via Rosen. “He brings a physical aspect to the game that especially this time of year is, I mean, you can’t have enough of it. … At the same time, I mean, he comes up big in those big moments. Just a player you love to have on your team and one you hate (to) play against.”

Bennett is a pending unrestricted free agent and is line for a hefty raise this offseason from his current $4.4 million AAV contract.

Stars’ captain Jamie Benn wants to remain in Dallas

The Dallas Stars were once again eliminated from the playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers, in what was seen as an ‘all-in’ type year for the Stars. With just 16 players signed for next season and under $5 million in cap space, there’s going to be significant changes to the Stars’ roster, however, captain Jamie Benn is hoping to return.

Benn is an unrestricted free agent come July 1st, but he wants to make it clear he’s willing to work with GM Jim Nill to ensure he stays with the only franchise he’s ever known.

“It will be interesting. I’m looking forward to it, to be honest,” Benn told reporters Saturday when asked about potentially testing unrestricted free agency for the first time in his 16-year career. “I don’t see myself going anywhere else. This is all I know. Hopefully, we can get something figured out, then I don’t have to answer these questions.”

The 35-year-old Benn would fetch a decent contract on the open market, as his experience, strong physical play, and ability to chip in with secondary scoring will be appealing to onlooking teams. Benn isn’t the only Star who is headed to free agency reluctantly, as veteran forward Matt Duchene will also become a UFA come July. Duchene made it clear, like Benn, he wants re-sign with the Stars.

“I’d love to stay here and make it work,” Duchene said. “I think I’m in a little different place, maybe than I was last year, looking at things. But I believe in this group and want to be here. I know how close we are.”

The Stars are a team to watch when it comes to trades around the NHL Draft, with Mason Marchment being a potential ‘cap casualty’ in Dallas.

Could Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane reunite this summer?

One feel-good story this offseason will be where Jonathan Toews decides to continue his NHL career. The future hall of famer recently stated to his agent Pat Brisson that he’s fully committed to the next NHL season, and wants to attempt a comeback. With Toews hitting the open market at the same time as long-time teammate Patrick Kane, it will be interesting to see if the two former Chicago Blackhawks decide to once again link up on a contending team.

The Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs have been two teams linked to Toews, and potential other suitors include the Los Angeles Kings, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche. While Kane had a 20-goal season last year with the Detroit Red Wings, so far there hasn’t been much indication he’ll be re-signing in Motown.

Toews’ contract will be filled with bonuses, so the AAV should be affordable for most teams, meanwhile Kane is coming off a $4 million deal in with the Red Wings, and likely fetches the same amount on the open market this offseason. Seeing Toews and Kane reunited would be great for hockey and especially if they can land on a playoff-bound team, and take another shot at winning a Stanley Cup together.

Quick hits from around the NHL:

• Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger admitted he was very surprised he got pulled in Game 5 against the Oilers, and called it ’embarrassing’.
• Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin feels the Anaheim Ducks could move John Gibson this summer, thanks to a thin goalie market, and listed the Hurricanes, Penguins, Flyers, Blue Jackets, and Devils as potential suitors.
• Claude Giroux would like to stay on with the Ottawa Senators, and the two sides have dug into contract negotiations, with free agency looming for the veteran forward.
• New York Islanders re-signed forward Kyle Palmieri to a two-year contract, and defenceman Adam Boqvist to a one-year contract.
• Washington Capitals denied next year will be Alex Ovechkin’s last season, after an employee of the team sent out ticket packages to season-seat holders telling them to renew to see Ovechkin’s final year with the franchise.
• Philadelphia Flyers re-signed pending restricted free-agent forward Tyson Foerster to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.75 million.
• The Buffalo Sabres hired Jarmo Kekalainen as a senior advisor to general manager Kevyn Adams. Kekalainen served as GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2013 to 2024. Columbus made the postseason five times in a seven-year stretch under his guidance.