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Shocking Report Emerges on Sam Bennett's Next Contract: Bidding War May Pass $10 Million

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 23, 2025 12:35 PM ET

Sam Bennett is going to be a very in demand player in free agency this off-season, and now it appears his next deal may go beyond $10 million annually.

The Florida Panthers are well on their way to reaching their third straight Stanley Cup Finals, boasting arguably the deepest team in recent NHL memory as they continue their dominance in 2025.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, when that happens their depth pieces are often poached by other teams in free agency, and this summer we could see that happen again, with star forward Sam Bennett set to hit free agency.

Beyond Nikolaj Ehlers and Mitch Marner, Bennett will likely be the biggest name available to opposing teams, and given the style he plays and how well it translates to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he may draw the most interest of any free agent available on the market.

Now, it's been speculated that Bennett's next deal could go upwards of $10 million a season, with E.J. Hradek, the host of NHL Tonight noting that at least one team is prepared to offer that on his next deal.

While he's a star in the post-season, Bennett has gone beyond 50 points just once in his career, doing so in 2024/25 with 51 in 76 games played, and although he's incredibly valuable in the post-season, a team will need to weigh up whether that's worth it for the money he'll get.

Bennett has reportedly ruled out signing to a Canadian team in free agency, but beyond that, he's open to any offers, so don't be surprised to see a team that misses on Marner or Ehlers overpay to land Bennett this summer.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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