Sam Bennett made a promise during the Florida Panthers’ Stanley Cup parade: he wasn’t going anywhere. On Friday night, just hours before the 2025 NHL Draft, the Panthers’ playoff MVP proved he was a man of his word, inking an eight-year contract extension to remain in South Florida.
Bennett, 29, was set to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1 and would have been one of the most highly pursued centers on the market. Instead, he opted for stability, loyalty — and another shot at a three-peat with the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. The deal carries an average annual value of $8 million, a raise from the $4.425 million he earned under his previous contract, but still considered a team-friendly discount compared to projections from rival bidders.
“This team, this city, these fans — it’s home now,” Bennett said in a statement released by the team. “We’ve built something special here, and I want to be part of it for as long as I can.”
Bennett’s postseason heroics were instrumental in Florida’s second consecutive Stanley Cup triumph. The gritty forward led the Panthers with 11 goals and 12 assists across 21 playoff games, consistently delivering in big moments with his signature blend of tenacity, physicality, and timely scoring. His performance earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP — a fitting culmination for a player whose reputation as a clutch postseason performer has grown exponentially.
Bennett now has 37 points (19 goals, 18 assists) in his last 40 playoff games over the past two seasons. In the 2023-24 campaign, he tallied 25 goals and 26 assists in 76 regular season games, proving to be one of Florida’s most reliable two-way forwards.
The Panthers, along with fellow recent Cup winners Tampa Bay and Vegas, benefit from playing in states with no state income tax — a financial advantage that has become a significant factor in player negotiations league-wide. While Bennett likely left money on the table compared to what other teams could have offered, the Panthers’ winning culture and tax-friendly locale sweetened the deal.
The extension also signals Florida’s commitment to maintaining its championship core, which continues to evolve around a mix of star power and physical, playoff-ready depth.
Bennett was one of three key unrestricted free agents for the Panthers this offseason, with veteran winger Brad Marchand and longtime defenseman Aaron Ekblad also reaching the end of their contracts. The team is expected to push hard to retain both, though salary cap constraints will present challenges.
Ekblad, a former No. 1 overall pick and cornerstone of the Panthers’ blue line, remains in negotiations, while Marchand — a midseason acquisition who brought veteran leadership and edge — is weighing his options after lifting the Cup in his first season with Florida.
For now, the Panthers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their playoff heartbeat is locked in long-term.
From Calgary cast-off to Conn Smythe winner, Sam Bennett’s journey has mirrored Florida’s rise — relentless, physical, and impossible to ignore. Now, he’s staying put to help write the next chapter of a franchise suddenly rich with tradition and ambition.
