The Florida Panthers have solidified their roster by re-signing forward Sam Bennett to an eight-year contract extension. The deal is worth $64 million, carrying an average annual value of $8 million. The announcement was made on Friday by Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Bill Zito.
Zito expressed his enthusiasm about the agreement, highlighting Bennett's unique skills and physicality, which have made him a significant performer in the postseason. He also acknowledged Bennett's integral role in the team's two Stanley Cup championships and his contributions to the South Florida community.
Bennett, 29, is coming off a career year in the 2024-25 season, where he recorded personal bests in assists (26), points (51), and power-play goals (7). His 25 goals were second only to Sam Reinhart on the team. Throughout the regular season, Bennett also tallied 145 hits, placing him fourth on the team.
During Florida's recent championship run, Bennett led all players with 15 goals and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Notably, 13 of those 15 goals were scored on the road, surpassing Mark Scheifele's previous NHL record of 11 road goals in the 2017-18 season. Bennett also scored in each of the final six road games of the postseason, just one game shy of tying Brian Propp's NHL record of seven consecutive games in 1989.
Since joining the Panthers during the 2020-21 season, Bennett has amassed 196 points (95 goals, 101 assists) in 289 regular-season games and 59 points (29 goals, 30 assists) in 77 postseason games, contributing to the Panthers' consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 2024 and 2025. His 338 postseason hits since the start of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs are the most among all Florida skaters and exceed any other NHL skater, with Evander Kane ranking second with 284 hits.
Prior to his time with the Panthers, Bennett was drafted fourth overall by the Calgary Flames in 2014. In 691 career games with the Flames and Panthers, he has recorded 162 goals, 174 assists, and 670 penalty minutes.
Bennett's re-signing follows a hint he dropped at a Miami nightclub, where he told the crowd, "I ain't (expletive) leaving," while a graphic displaying "8 more years" appeared on the screen. The Panthers are also reportedly working to secure extensions with Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand before they reach free agency.
