Sam Bennett Makes Official Announcement on his Future Following Offseason Speculation

Celebrating the win, and his 29th birthday, Bennett told fans at the nightclub that he's staying in Florida and not exploring free agency.

'I'm not F'n leaving'.

- Sam Bennett

Whether the drinks were inebriated or not, the crowd entered into an 'Eight more years!' chant when he made the declaration.

Bennett, a key member of the Panthers' championship quest, is one of several top-flight free agents the Panthers are interested in re-signing.

The Panthers have $19 million in cap space with several key players to sign

GM Bill Zito has been on record saying he would like to retain Bennett, along with veteran Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad. With approximately $19 million of cap room projected, Zito believes he can keep the core intact.

Bennett, in Game 6, stated he loves playing in South Florida, echoing the words of teammate Sam Reinhart, who signed an eight-year, $69 million extension last year to stay.

Bennett, too, is reportedly set to sign a comparable offer, eight years with an average annual value of roughly $8 million, to remain with the Panthers, according to various reports.