As the Florida Panthers gear up for another shot at Stanley Cup glory, all eyes are on forward Sam Bennett, a player whose determination and grit have become synonymous with the team’s recent success. After helping the Panthers capture their first championship last season, Bennett has once again stepped up as a driving force in Florida’s quest for back-to-back titles. Yet, while his focus remains firmly on the ice and the high-stakes rematch against the Edmonton Oilers, an air of uncertainty surrounds Bennett’s future.

Set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, Bennett’s name is already generating buzz across the league, with multiple teams rumored to be preparing offers for the dynamic forward. Despite the speculation, Bennett has made it clear that his attention is devoted solely to the Panthers’ playoff run, pushing contract talks and future decisions to the background for now. His journey from struggling in Calgary to thriving in Florida is a testament to his resilience and adaptability, making his story one of the most compelling narratives of this postseason. As the Panthers chase another championship, Bennett’s next chapter remains an intriguing subplot that could reshape the NHL landscape in the months ahead.

Photo credit: Daily Faceoff

Sam Bennett is attempting to win his 2nd straight Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, but is also a pending UFA this summer.

Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett is a man on a mission right now, trying to help the Florida Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions when they face the Edmonton Oilers in a highly-contested rematch from last year.

Bennett also happens to be a pending UFA this summer, and there will be more than a few teams lining up to try and entice him to join their squad.

While the issue has been on Bennett’s mind, he’s kept his focus on the forefront of his current responsibilities on the ice for the Panthers.

Honestly, since the playoffs have started, it’s really just taken a back seat, and I haven’t really thought too much about anything other than the playoffs and getting here, and now the whole focus is on winning the Stanley Cup.

Everything else is going to be in the background for the next couple weeks.

Bennett, who previously played for the Calgary Flames, said his career began to turn around upon his arrival via trade to the Panthers in 2020-21.

I definitely struggled in Calgary for a while. Once I got here, just how the team embraced me – the opportunity the team gave me right from the beginning – was totally different than what I was getting in Calgary. I took that opportunity and found some success early, and our team definitely changed quite a bit.

So far in the postseason, Bennett has 16 points (10G, 6A).

Bennett isn’t the only notable pending UFA on the Panthers roster, as both Aaron Ekblad (the former 1st overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by Florida) and veteran Brad Marchand are also both up for new contracts in the summer.

A 2nd straight Stanley Cup for the Panthers would go a long way in helping the aforementioned names consider even more strongly of sticking around.