Sam Bennett Secures Eight-Year, $64 Million Deal with Florida Panthers

As the Florida Panthers celebrated their Stanley Cup victory, Sam Bennett took center stage, greeted by a chorus of fans chanting, "Eight more years! Eight more years!" Their enthusiasm was met with a resounding agreement.

Bennett, who made history by leading the NHL with 15 playoff goals this year, has committed to the back-to-back champions with an eight-year contract valued at $64 million, translating to $8 million annually.

"Sam is a special player who has mastered a unique blend of skill and physicality in his game," stated Bill Zito, the Panthers' general manager. "He played an integral role in our two Stanley Cup championships, earning the franchise's first Conn Smythe trophy and is a dedicated contributor to our South Florida community off the ice. We are thrilled that he will continue his career with the Panthers."

Notably, Bennett is the first player in franchise history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. The last Conn Smythe winner to switch teams after a championship run was goaltender Mike Vernon in 1997, who was traded from Detroit to San Jose.

This signing marks a significant step for the Panthers as they navigate free agency. The team is also focused on decisions regarding forward Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

Zito's strategy is evident; with Bennett's signing, eight key players are now under contract through at least the 2029-30 season. This list includes notable names like Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk.

Bennett's new deal represents a substantial increase from his previous four-year contract, which totaled just under $18 million. His playoff performance was exceptional; he became one of only two players to score at least 15 goals while accumulating 48 penalty minutes in a single postseason run, a feat last achieved by Pittsburgh's Kevin Stevens in 1991.

Throughout the offseason, Bennett hinted at his desire to remain in Florida, even during celebrations at a nightclub following the Cup win. However, it wasn't until Friday that the deal was finalized.

Coming off a standout season, Bennett recorded 25 goals and 26 assists during the regular season, achieving a career-high total of 51 points.