Sam Bennett says he ‘ain’t f—ing leaving’ Panthers during Stanley Cup celebration

Bennett will still need to sign a new deal with the Panthers, but this can be considered a clear sign that he’s not going anywhere. The 29-year-old could command a new deal upwards of $8 million annually, although the Panthers are well-known for signing players well below market value under general manager Bill Zito. Florida holds $19 million in cap space, where it is expected to retain Bennett and Brad Marchand. Aaron Ekblad is also a key unrestricted free agent, and while the Panthers will aim to re-sign all three players, it appears the veteran defenceman may be the odd man out.

During his tenure with the Panthers, Bennett has emerged as a key playoff performer, who has drawn the ire of fans across the league for a series of questionable hits. Bennett notably crashed into Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz during Game 1 of their second-round series. Stolarz suffered a concussion as a result of the play, while Bennett did not receive any supplementary discipline from the league.

It’ll be compelling to see how the board plays out with free agency on the horizon and while Bennett’s comments could be taken with some grace, in the heat of the moment during a well-earned celebration, it appears almost certain that he’ll be returning to the Panthers. Cross him off the list, Leafs fans, as Bennett would certainly be a player that would constitute a DNA change entering the 2025-26 season.