Sam Bennett's Free Agency Gets Crucial Panthers Update

Since joining the Panthers in a 2021 trade from the Calgary Flames, Bennett has become a critical piece of their success including the Stanley Cup championship the franchise won last season.

Over 278 games with Florida, Bennett has recorded 92 goals and 98 assists for 190 points. He has added 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) through 54 postseason games spread over four seasons with the Panthers.

“Again, I don’t want to handicap it,” Friedman said. “I don’t want to say one way or the other, but they are trying, and it’s been a very good marriage between player and team.”

Bennett played a key role in Florida’s 2024 Stanley Cup run, posting 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in 19 games while leading the team in hits with 87.

Possible free-agency suitors are already on alert in case Bennett enters the open market on July 1. Jeff Marek, appearing on "The Leafs Nation" show on Wednesday, echoed a report from TNT's Paul Bissonnette linking the Panthers forward to the Maple Leafs.

"I think it will be a cattle auction," Marek said, "and I think that the Maple Leafs will be one of those teams that will be right in there."

Panthers general manager Bill Zito, however, has made it clear that he doesn't plan to allow either Bennett or fellow star player and pending free agent Aaron Ekblad to reach the open market.

“No (we don't plan to let them get to July 1 without a contract extension), but I’m not really going to talk about that,” Zito said.

This season, Bennett has scored 22 goals and notched 45 points season through 65 games, leading the Panthers (41-24-3 and 85 points) to their current position atop the Atlantic Division.