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NHL Analyst Demands Eight-Figure Salary for Panthers' Sam Bennett

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jun 22, 2025 11:40 AM ET

Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett’s postseason performances earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs just days before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

If Bennett wants to maximize his earnings, whether that's signing a contract extension with the Panthers or a deal with another team, he might have an ally in former NHL player and current analyst Paul Bissonnette.

Speaking on Saturday's episode of “Spittin’ Chiclets,” Bissonnette didn’t hold back on Bennett's value, building a case for the forward to earn at least $10 million per season in his next contract.

"Sam Bennett just scored more goals in this playoff run than Nikolaj (Ehlers) has in his entire playoff career," Bissonnette said, comparing Bennett’s postseason to that of Winnipeg Jets forward Ehlers. "Sam 'The Menace' Bennett, $10 million all day."

Give Sam Bennett TEN MILLION.https://t.co/BhUOo4whQj pic.twitter.com/Znxz6WygDu
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) June 21, 2025

Bennett, who turned 29 on Friday, scored 15 goals and 22 points in 23 playoff games. He followed up a regular season in which he already had 25 goals and 26 assists before leading the Panthers to their second straight Stanley Cup title.

Bissonnette dismissed criticisms about Bennett’s modest regular-season numbers, pointing to Florida’s decision to rest players before the playoffs.

"'Ah, he only had 50 points in the regular season...' — I don’t give a flying (expletive),” Bissonnette said. “Half their team didn’t even finish the regular season. They were just resting. They didn't even care about winning the division.

"All they cared about was the first game of the playoffs. They didn't care whether it was at home, they didn't care whether it was on the road."

Bissonnette’s salary comparison centered around Ehlers, who just completed a seven-year, $42 million contract with Winnipeg and is also about to become an unrestricted free agent.

Ehlers had seven playoff points this spring after scoring 63 regular-season points in 69 games.

Daily Faceoff projects Ehlers to sign a six-year deal at $8.1 million per season, while the same outlet has Bennett projected for a six-year, $6.4 million-per-season contract.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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