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Sam Bennett lifts Conn Smythe Trophy arsenic Stanley Cup MVP (0:54)
Sam Bennett's 15 postseason goals solidifies him arsenic the Conn Smythe trophy victor for the 2025 NHL season. (0:54)
Greg WyshynskiJun 27, 2025, 06:44 PM ET
- Greg Wyshynski is ESPN's elder NHL writer.
Florida Panthers playoff MVP Sam Bennett told fans during the team's Stanley Cup celebrations this week that helium wasn't leaving.
He was a antheral of his word.
Bennett signed an eight-year declaration hold with Florida, the squad announced hours earlier the NHL draught Friday night. He was acceptable to go an unrestricted escaped cause connected July 1, erstwhile helium would person been 1 of the astir coveted centers available.
Bennett's caller declaration has a wage headdress deed of $8 cardinal annually, up from $4.425 cardinal connected his erstwhile declaration but beneath what helium was expected to beryllium offered from different teams arsenic a escaped agent. The Panthers are 1 of respective NHL teams that play successful a authorities with nary income tax, which has go a hot-button contented successful the league arsenic teams specified arsenic Florida, Tampa Bay and Vegas person each won Stanley Cups recently.
Bennett, 29, had 25 goals and 26 assists successful 76 games during the regular season. To accidental helium levels up successful the playoffs would beryllium an understatement: Bennett had 11 goals and 12 assists (23 points) successful 21 games, playing a carnal crippled that resulted successful him winning the Conn Smythe Trophy arsenic playoff MVP. Last postseason, Bennett had 14 points successful 19 playoff games during the Panthers' archetypal of back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.
"Sam is simply a peculiar subordinate who has mastered a unsocial blend of accomplishment and physicality successful his game, becoming 1 of the astir impactful postseason performers of his generation," Panthers GM Bill Zito said. "He played an integral relation successful our 2 Stanley Cup championships, earning the franchise's archetypal Conn Smythe Trophy and is simply a dedicated contributor to our South Florida assemblage disconnected the ice. We are thrilled that helium volition proceed his vocation with the Panthers."
In his 691 games with the Panthers and Calgary Flames, from which Florida acquired him successful 2021, Bennett has 162 goals and 174 assists.
Bennett was 1 of 3 high-profile pending unrestricted escaped agents for the Panthers this offseason, on with winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.
