Panthers re-sign Sam Bennett to eight-year contract

Bennett was set to become one of the hottest commodities come July 1, as the Holland Landing, Ontario native could’ve become an unrestricted free agent. However, things started pointing toward him staying in South Florida, especially after Bennett said that he “ain’t f–king leaving!” during a party in which the Panthers were celebrating a second straight Stanley Cup.

The new contract represents a substantial pay bump for the 29-year-old. His latest contract had a cap hit of $4.425 million for the past four years.

It’s easy to see why the Panthers would want to keep him around. Not only does he provide secondary scoring to a team that features stars like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, but Bennett’s playing style in the postseason has given the team an extra edge that has led to recent success.

This past playoff run was Bennett’s masterpiece. Along with continuing to be a nuisance for the opposition, he had an incredible offensive performance. He led all postseason skaters with 15 goals, finishing tied for the team lead with 22 points. On top of helping Florida win in the Cup, Bennett became the first player in franchise history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ most valuable player.

Bennett has spent the past four-plus seasons with the Panthers ever since he was dealt to the team by the Calgary Flames in April 2021. In 289 games with the Cats, he’s notched 95 goals and 101 assists for 196 points, including 59 points in 77 postseason games.

In 691 overall NHL appearances, Bennett has scored 162 goals and 174 assists for 336 points, including 78 points in 107 playoff contests.

With the new signing, the Panthers have $11 million in cap space next season, according to CapWages.