Sunrise, Fla. — Florida Panthers Hockey Operations and General Manager, President Bill Zetto, announced today that the club has agreed to work with Forward Sam Bennett on an eight-year contract extension.
“Sam is a special player who has mastered a unique blend of skill and physicality in the game and has become one of the most impactful postseason performers of his generation,” Zito said. “He played an integral role in our two Stanley Cup Championships, winning the franchise’s first Conn Smythe Trophy and is a dedicated contributor focused on the South Florida community. We are excited to continue his career with the Panthers.”
The 29-year-old Bennett set a career-high with 2024-25 regular-season assists (26), points (51) and power-play goals (7).
The 6-foot-1, 193-pound Netherlands native from Ontario skated in the 691 NHL game between Florida (2020-21-2024-25) and the Calgary Flames (2014-15-2020-21), scoring 336 points (162-174-336).
During Florida’s 2025 Championship run, Bennett led all skaters with 15 goals (15-7-22) and introduced each year to “the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs.” He scored 13 of his 15 goals on the road, surpassing his previous NHL Road Postseason goals of 11 (Mark Scheifele, 2017-18), scoring goals in each of the last six road games of the postseason. Eleven of his goals were tied to the team’s lead, with 69 shots on goal pacing all the Florida skaters. He also led the Panthers with the second-most hits of postseason skaters.
Since being acquired from Calgary during the 2020-21 campaign, Bennett has compiled 196 points (95-101-196) in 289 regular season games and collected 59 points (29-30-59) in 77 postseason games, leading Florida backing the Stanley Cup Championship on 2023-24 and 2024-25 in consecutive Stanley Cup Championships. Since his 338 postseason hits since the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2021, he has led all Florida skaters, more than any other NHL skater, with Evander Kane’s 284 hits ranked second in that period.
Prior to his professional career, he spent three seasons (2012-13 to 2014-15) with the Kingston Frontnacks of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), accumulating 155 points (65-90-155) in 128 regular season games. He was selected for the OHL Second All-Rookie Team in 2012-13 and the OHL Third All-Star Team in 2013-14. He was awarded the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Top Draft Prospect Award following his 2013-14 campaign.
On the international stage, Bennett won a gold medal in Canada in the 2025 NHL 4 Nations and scored a goal in the championship game. He also won gold at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championship, 7 points (3-4-7) and 7 points (3-4-7) and gold medal at the 2013 Hlinka Greetzky Cup.
Bennett was originally selected by Calgary in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft (fourth overall).
The Florida Panthers are the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Champions! Fans interested in season ticket membership for the 2025-26 season are encouraged to join the waitlist by clicking here, visiting floridapanthers.com/tickets or calling Puckline (954.835.puck).
