Sam Bennett, Panthers Agree to 8-Year Contract Worth Rumored $64M Before NHL FA

Sam Bennett is back to help the Florida Panthers seek a third straight Stanley Cup.

Bennett and the Panthers agreed to an eight-year contract to bring the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner back before the start of NHL free agency, the franchise announced Friday.

The deal is worth $64 million, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

Bennett hit free agency after his previous four-year, $17.7 million deal with the Panthers expired following the 2024-25 season.

He scored 25 goals and 26 assists for 51 points in 76 regular-season games during his contract year as the Panthers' second-line center.

Bennett then did his best to increase his free agency price by leading the Panthers with 15 goals in 23 playoff games on the way to a playoff MVP award and a second straight Stanley Cup.

Bennett's fit both as a linemate for Matthew Tkachuk and Evan Rodrigues and a key part of the Panthers' hard-hitting, physical game helped give Florida enough top-six depth for a second deep playoff run.

The Panthers will now be able to continue deploying a one-two punch of Aleksander Barkov and Bennett down the middle as the franchise seeks to compete for another title in 2026.

Bennett, who was drafted by the Calgary Flames with the No. 4 pick of the 2014 draft, played seven seasons in Calgary before he was traded to the Panthers during the 2020-21 season.

He has recorded 95 goals and 101 assists in 289 regular season games, while adding 29 goals and 30 assists in 77 playoff games, through his first four and a half seasons with the Panthers.