It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. The Stanley Cup Final has been decided and the Florida Panthers have gone back-to-back. However, the news surrounding the two-time champions doesn’t stop. The Panthers are celebrating their historic victory, but now the attention turns to keeping the band together. Big-money offers will be coming and players will have to decide what comes next.
This edition of NHL rumours deals with a key component of the Cup winners and what he wants to do next.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Conn Smythe Winner Expresses Desire to Stay Put
Rumour: In a post-Cup winning appearance, Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett announced his hopes to stay put with the Panthers.
Incredible night for the Panthers. Just like last year, the celebrations are amazing to see. (No Atlantic Ocean — yet.)
As of this morning, no extension with Sam Bennett is complete — although, obviously, conversations continue. https://t.co/fQ3r5osmPK
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 20, 2025
Analysis: Bennett played a massive hand in Florida going to back-to-back as Stanley Cup champions. The 29-year-old did his best of Wolf of Wall Street impersonation and said that he wasn’t leaving and was planning to sign an eight-year deal.
Bennett recorded a career-high 51 points with 25 goals and 26 assists in 71 games this season. However, he really turned it up in the post-season with 15 goals and 22 points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Those 15 goals were the best for the entire post-season.
The Holland Landing, Ontario native was also part of the tournament-winning Team Canada squad that won the Four Nations Face-Off. Bennett registered a goal in three games played for his native country.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said that no contract has been signed. However, talks seem to be ongoing between Bennett and the Panthers.
What It Means
It’s going to be hard to keep the core of the Panthers together. There have already been some extensions to players like Carter Verhaeghe. However, players like Aaron Ekblad, Bennett and others need new deals. It’s going to be hard for Panthers General Manager Bill Zito to keep this group together.
However, Zito has done a fairly good job keeping a number of players in South Florida. There have been losses like Brandon Montour to the Seattle Kraken, but this group has stayed mostly intact.
This off-season may prove difficult, but Zito is well-equipped to keep most of this group together. It does help that Florida has no state tax, but that’s not the only reason players want to stay there. Zito may be able to make whatever contract go a bit further than if Bennett where playing elsewhere.
Playing for a winning team is a great draw and having warm weather doesn’t hurt. Players want to be with a winner and the Panthers have proven to be one of those. Florida is just a few seasons away from being an also ran, so the tax thing isn’t a be-all and end-all. Teams like the Nashville Predators struggled this season. This is despite the state of Tennessee not having state tax just like Florida.
Bennett came over the Calgary Flames and has been a huge force for Florida. His game is very physical, but he’s a strong contributor on both ends of the ice.
Main photo by: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The post NHL Rumours: Coveted Florida Panthers Free Agent Announces Plans appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.