Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported last night on Saturday Headlines that the Florida Panthers and pending UFA center Sam Bennett have re-started contract talks. Bennett is in the final season of a four-year $17.7MM contract that he signed back on July 26th, 2021, just three months after the Panthers had acquired Bennett from the Calgary Flames for a second-round pick in 2022 and Emil Heineman. The trade was a massive win for Florida as Bennett had never lived up to the lofty expectations that were placed on him in Calgary, but has developed into a strong two-way play driver with the Panthers.
The $4.425MM AAV has been a huge discount for the Panthers as Bennett signed the deal when the NHL was in a very different economic landscape and Bennett had yet to become the player he is today. Bennett had never topped 40 points in a season in Calgary but has done so in every season since joining Florida and is currently on pace for a career year with 22 goals and 23 assists in 65 games.
More importantly, Bennett has shown an ability to elevate his game when it matters most, evidenced by the Panthers’ last two playoff runs to the Finals and Bennett’s performance in the 4 Nations Face-Off. The Holland Landing, Ontario native has 12 goals and 17 assists in 39 games over the last two playoff runs with the Panthers and was a crucial part of their Stanley Cup Championship last season.
Bennett’s contract negotiations will be tough as he will likely be looking for a salary in the range of $7MM-$8MM annually on a seven or eight year deal. Top six centers usually get an AAV in that range in July, but Bennett is a unique case given that his career offensive numbers don’t necessarily scream top six. However, Elias Lindholm received a $7.75MM AAV last summer from the Boston Bruins, and with a rising salary cap, Bennett will be looking for similar money and could certainly get it on the open market. Whether or not the Panthers will match that remains to be seen, they will have some tough decisions to make this summer as Aaron Ekblad is also a pending UFA and Anton Lundell appears ready to take on a bigger role in Florida’s top six.