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Calgary Flames free agent target: Sam Bennett

Originally posted on The Win Column | By Cody Misyk | Last updated Jun 22, 2025 12:26 PM ET

Sam Bennett is coming off the best season of his NHL career. The forward won the 4 Nations Face-off with Canada, then won a second straight Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. His four-year contract with the Panthers has expired, which means Bennett could test free agency. Is it worth going after Sam Bennett in free agency from the Calgary Flames’ perspective? Unfortunately, this is not a reunion that should take place.

Recent success increases value

Bennett was arguably the most successful player of the 2024–25 NHL season. He had his highest scoring season with 51 points in 76 regular season games, and scored the game-tying goal in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off. Things only got better for him in the playoffs, where he led the league in goals with 15 in 23 games. To cap it all off, the 29-year-old won the Conn Smythe Trophy for being the most valuable player in the playoffs. What a season for the former Flame.

With all this recent success, it will undoubtedly raise his value in free agency. The forward could ask for money in the range of $8–$10M average annual value per season. There will be teams out there that will be willing to pay for that, especially since Bennett is such a unique player in today’s NHL. There have been recent rumblings that Bennett could be close to signing an extension with the Panthers. As of this moment, nothing has been confirmed about this news.

If Bennett were to re-sign with the Panthers, it would lock in their core for a while. Forwards Bennett, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, and Matthew Tkachuk would be signed at least until 2030. Defencemen Seth Jones and Gustav Forsling would join them as well. That is an exceptional core to build around that would be able to win more Stanley Cups.

Conroy should not go after Bennett

The Flames are once again in the middle of the NHL. They are not a great team, but at the same time, they are not a bad one. Mediocre is a perfect term to describe how this team has operated for the past 20 years. Signing Bennett is one of the last things that Craig Conroy should consider. Yes, he had a great season, but the Flames simply do not need him.

Bennett would need a big contract, which has been a problem for the Flames. They gave a massive contract to forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who has unfortunately become one of the most overpaid players in the NHL. Signing Bennett would make things worse for the Flames. They already have all that money tied up with Huberdeau; they do not need to hand out another awful deal.

Nazem Kadri also has a fairly big contract, but in my opinion, he has lived up to it. Things did not work out for Bennett when he was a Flame the first time. Most of the time, he was mismanaged and placed on the fourth line. That is not how a team should develop young talent. This is a connection the Flames must move on from.

Instead of signing big-name players, Conroy should focus on acquiring younger talent. Recent rumours have suggested that the Flames may be interested in JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres. He is a younger player who would easily become the best goal scorer on the Flames alongside Matt Coronato. This is a potential move that could benefit the franchise if they decide to move on from forwards like Blake Coleman or Joel Farabee.

Potential destinations for Bennett

Florida Panthers

The team that simply makes the most sense for Bennett is the Florida Panthers. He has been a phenomenal player for them from the moment he put on the jersey. The Panthers do have the cap space to sign him, which should be their number one priority in the offseason. They may have to move on from Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand, which would be tough losses, but they must not let the reigning Conn Smythe winner slip away. Bennett has brought them so much success that management may as well hand him a blank cheque.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the hottest teams to talk about going into free agency. Forwards Mitch Marner and John Tavares are set to become free agents on July 1. This could initiate some massive changes in Toronto.

Bennett makes sense for the Maple Leafs as they are still in win-now mode. As long as Auston Matthews and William Nylander are on the team, they must push for the Stanley Cup. Bennett would be an upgrade over Tavares, as he brings more grit to the Leafs’ roster. Bennett is from Ontario, so this signing would be a bit of a homecoming for him.

The Panthers and Maple Leafs are the only two teams I can see landing Bennett. He makes sense for both teams and would serve as an extremely valuable player.

Where do you think Bennett lands in free agency?

This article first appeared on The Win Column and was syndicated with permission.

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