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Panthers' Sam Bennett Goes Full 'Wolf of Wall Street' After Signing $64 Million Deal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jun 28, 2025 8:43 AM ET

As the Florida Panthers celebrated back-to-back Stanley Cups with a parade through South Florida, Sam Bennett stepped to the mic and left little doubt about his plans.

Bennett let it rip at a nightclub, dropping a profanity-laced prediction on his then-pending free agency, saying, “I ain’t (expletive) leaving!”

Some fans linked Bennett's claim to the words uttered by Leonardo DiCaprio on The Wolf of Wall Street, and the Panthers forward pretty much backed it up with a post on Instagram shortly after signing an eight-year extension with the franchise.

Bennett signed a $64-million contract through the 2032-33 season that carries an $8 million cap hit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLa5oiqpbGH

The deal includes a no-move clause for the first five seasons and a limited no-trade clause over the final three.

Bennett erupted in the 2025 postseason, scoring 15 goals in 23 games en route to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.

His regular season wasn’t far behind, with the forward posting a career-best 51 points in 73 games.

Panthers GM Bill Zito praised the forward’s two-way game and consistency under pressure.

"Sam is a special player who has mastered a unique blend of skill and physicality in his game, becoming one of the most impactful postseason performers of his generation," Zito said on Friday. “He played an integral role in our two Stanley Cup championships, earning the franchise’s first Conn Smythe Trophy.

"We are thrilled that he will continue his career with the Panthers."

The extension pushes Florida’s projected cap space down to $11 million entering free agency on July 1, with major decisions still looming on veteran forward Brad Marchand and star defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

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

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