The spotlight of the Stanley Cup Final has never shone brighter, and at its center stands one of the league’s most polarizing figures—Sam Bennett. As the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers battle for hockey’s ultimate prize, Bennett’s presence on the ice has become impossible to ignore, sparking heated debates among fans and analysts alike. Known for his relentless style and willingness to push boundaries, Bennett has once again found himself in the eye of a storm, with his actions drawing both admiration and outrage.

While his scoring touch has been a driving force behind Florida’s postseason run, it’s his controversial play that continues to capture headlines. Videos circulating from the latest matchups show Bennett walking a fine line between competitive fire and questionable tactics, leaving opponents and spectators alike questioning just how far he’s willing to go to secure victory. As emotions run high and tensions escalate between the two teams, all eyes are fixed on Bennett’s every move.

With the stakes higher than ever and the potential for fireworks on and off the ice, the unfolding drama promises to make this Stanley Cup Final one for the ages. The only certainty is that Sam Bennett’s role in this series is far from finished.

Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Sam Bennett is one of the more controversial players in today’s NHL, and now video has shown him making another shock play to try and injure an opponent.

In the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there have been few players in the NHL better than Sam Bennett, who has been a key reason why the Florida Panthers are once again just three wins away from hoisting the Stanley Cup.

However, that hasn’t always made opposing fans happy, as he has proven to have a habit of running into opposing goaltenders, and on occasion, injuring them and taking them out for the series (see round two against the Toronto Maple Leafs).

That has continued into Game’s 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and on Friday he was a full blown menace once again, with video showing just how much he’s trying to get under his opponents skin.

In this video, Bennett can be seen hitting Evan Bouchard late, and when the Oilers defenseman stands up for himself and simply taps Bennett, he fakes an injury, only to hit Bouchard with a hard slash shortly after.

With this combined with the constant attacks on Stuart Skinner, it’s no wonder why he’s become enemy No. 1 in Edmonton this series, but with three goals thus far in the series, he’s proving to be a handful in more ways than one for the Oilers.

After the Game 2 defeat, there’s no doubt that Edmonton will be looking at film on Bennett’s actions over the past few days, and with the team needing to get one back in Florida, taking Bennett out of the game may be the best way to do that.

This is a team that’s got muscle of their own as well with Corey Perry, Evander Kane and others all willing to step up, but if they continue to allow Bennett to fake injuries and try take down his opponents, he could lead the Panthers to another Stanley Cup win.