Sam Bennett: Toronto would not be on his list

But in life, you have to plan for the worst-case scenario.

If he and the Panthers couldn’t come to an agreement and he had to sign a contract with another team, which Bettman Circuit team could he sign with?

The first name that comes to mind is Toronto.

After all, the club will have some salary leeway on the heels of Mitch Marner’s foreseeable departure… and the Queen City club wants to bring in guys to win in the playoffs.

On paper, it just makes sense for the Ontarian, who has often been linked to the Maple Leafs in the event of a departure from Florida.

But according to hockey insider Andy Strickland, the Maple Leafs wouldn’t be on the forward’s list if he becomes a free agent on July 1.

Since Toronto is the only other city seriously circulated to potentially sign Bennett in the event of a change of address, I wonder where he’d go. He’d be in high demand, anyway.

Still, unlike Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand, I’d put my money on Bennett returning to Sunrise.

overtime

– The Blue Jackets, on the market to watch.

– The final was not watched to its fullest in Florida.

– Rocket: veterans needed to take their game up a notch. [BPM Sports]

– The Blue Jays are doing well.