Boston Bruins eye Sam Bennett with free agency decision looming in Florida

The Boston Bruins may be in for a sneaky big offseason move—one that fits both their identity and immediate needs.

With whispers growing that Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett could hit free agency, Boston suddenly looks like an ideal landing spot.

The Bruins are light down the middle and in desperate need of a player who can handle playoff pressure.

Bennett has done just that.

And now, with a major clue dropped by an NHL insider, there’s even more reason to believe this could happen.

Sam Bennett doesn’t want Canada, and that benefits Boston 

According to Andy Strickland, a respected voice on the NHL beat, Bennett has no interest in signing with a Canadian team this summer.

That instantly removes seven clubs from the chase—and makes American markets like Boston even more intriguing.

He will not be signing with a Canadian team in the offseason, even though he started his career in Calgary.

Bennett began with the Flames but never fully hit his stride until he landed in Florida.

There, he developed into a reliable, hard-nosed two-way center—exactly the type of player Bruins fans rally around.

Why Bennett fits what the Bruins are building  

Boston doesn’t need flash—they need impact. That’s Bennett. He hits, he drives play, and he raises his level when it matters most.

Just last year, he helped the Panthers lift the Stanley Cup with a relentless, bruising style of hockey.

The Bruins have always thrived on grit and structure.

With the roster in transition, adding someone like Bennett—who understands the grind and embraces it—would bring exactly the kind of stability the team needs down the middle.

One thing worth underlining: Boston wasn’t among the teams Bennett reportedly ruled out.

That’s a major green flag for Don Sweeney, who will be hunting for experienced centers with playoff bite this summer.

The Bruins are expected to have cap room to make a splash, and this is a chance to do just that without sacrificing young assets.

Given Bennett’s proven value, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Boston make a serious pitch the moment free agency begins.

All the pieces are there: the need, the fit, the cap space, and—perhaps most importantly—the mutual interest.

Bennett might not say it publicly, but behind the scenes, Boston checks more boxes than most.

If the Panthers can’t lock him up, the Bruins could very well swoop in and land one of the toughest playoff performers available.

Sam Bennett achieve a career-high 51 points (25 goals, 26 assists) in 76 games, despite a minus-15 rating.