In Sunrise, Florida, Sam Bennett, the Florida Panthers` dynamic center, perfectly demonstrated his impact as a playoff force during a single shift in their Game 3 victory against the Edmonton Oilers.
The sequence started with a strong backcheck, followed by a devastating but legal hit on Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin immediately after his pass. Bennett then hit defenseman John Klingberg, who received the short pass. Bennett continued battling for the puck near the boards before attempting a clear, which was momentarily intercepted until Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen recovered it.
Spotting the loose puck, Bennett surged forward, reminiscent of a power-up boost in a video game, and received a pass for a breakaway opportunity against Stuart Skinner. Skinner was caught flat-footed as Bennett calmly buried the puck for Florida`s fourth goal in a dominant 6-1 win.
Brad Marchand, formerly a rival and now a teammate, commented on the play, saying, “That shift showed his game perfectly: taking out two opponents and then somehow leading the rush to score a great goal. He`s capable of everything.” Marchand added, “He`s been a beast throughout these playoffs. He`s made for this time of year.”
Bennett has consistently proven this assessment correct in every playoff round. He currently leads the entire NHL postseason in goals with 14, four more than Edmonton`s star Leon Draisaitl. This is Florida`s third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, and over this three-year period, Bennett`s 26 goals are the most by any Panthers player.
“You see it year after year, playoffs after playoffs – that`s where he truly makes his mark,” stated Matthew Tkachuk. “He embodies what a playoff player is. And playing alongside him is especially enjoyable during this intense time.”
His team-leading 20 points in 20 games highlight his offensive contribution. Notably, in a playoff run characterized by the Panthers` success on the road, Bennett has been exceptional away from home, accumulating a playoff-best 15 points (12 goals, 3 assists) in road games.
Following Florida`s Game 3 victory, which brought them within two wins of a second consecutive Stanley Cup, Bennett became the favorite in the betting odds for the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the NHL playoff MVP.
He has been a formidable presence across all areas of the ice during these playoffs, particularly in the offensive zone. His relentless forechecking and contentious actions around the opposing net have significantly boosted Florida`s attack.
Marchand noted, “I believe one of his key strengths is his willingness to go into the tough areas at this time of year – he thrives there.” He added, “Many players get shoved around during the playoffs, but having the ability and skill to score from right in front of the net is a huge advantage.”
Even players on opposing teams acknowledge his skill and effectiveness in the playoffs.
Edmonton captain Connor McDavid commented, “He`s always had that intensity, even when he was young. We`ve seen this before – he`s playing effectively and scoring goals.” McDavid concluded, “We need to find a way to counter him.”
This period of MVP-level performance marks the most recent highlight in Bennett`s unique 11-year NHL career. His journey spans from being a draft hopeful unable to do a single pull-up to becoming a Stanley Cup winner who consistently exasperates opponents through any means necessary.
Sam Bennett was originally selected fourth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Notably, three other players from that same draft are also competing in this year`s Stanley Cup Final: Florida`s Aaron Ekblad (1st overall) and Sam Reinhart (2nd overall, drafted by Buffalo), and Edmonton`s Leon Draisaitl (3rd overall).
As a center for the Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League, Bennett displayed significant offensive skill alongside his defensive capabilities, scoring 91 points in 57 games in 2013-14. He stated that he based his playing style on Hockey Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour, a skilled two-way player known as “Killer” during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
However, leading up to the 2014 draft, Bennett gained notoriety for a different reason: he was the draft prospect famously unable to complete a single pull-up at the NHL scouting combine fitness tests.
This quickly became a widely discussed topic, influencing his public image before the Flames selected him fourth overall. Figures like Ottawa Senators captain Jason Spezza reached out to offer encouragement and guidance on handling the public embarrassment. Later that year, Bennett successfully completed five pull-ups during a televised pre-draft segment, aiming to silence his critics.
His mother, Diane, told Maclean`s in 2014, “I knew immediately he`d be embarrassed by that. He aims to succeed in everything he attempts. Now we can laugh about it, but initially, it was quite concerning.” She added, “When some in the media questioned his drive, I thought, `They truly don`t understand Sammy at all.`”
Bennett`s first full NHL season was at age 19 in 2015-16, where he posted 18 goals and 18 assists in 77 games but received no votes for the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year). The subsequent five seasons saw his potential seemingly unfulfilled, with 67 goals and 73 assists in 402 games, a minus-67 rating, and an average ice time slightly over 14 minutes per game. The season before his trade from Calgary, he averaged only 12:31 minutes per game, even less than veteran Milan Lucic (13:20).
Where did Bennett truly shine? The playoffs. Over 30 playoff games, his points-per-60 minutes average was 1.63, surpassing his regular-season average of 1.41 during that same period.
Tkachuk, who also played with Bennett in Calgary, stated, “He`s always possessed the talent, the work ethic, the tenacity, the grit – everything. I believe much of it comes down to opportunity.”
“In Calgary, he wasn`t given the same level of opportunity he has here regarding ice time and his role. I`m unsure of the exact reason – perhaps it was a personnel decision – but he has completely transformed into a different player in Florida for everyone to witness, although those of us who played with him in Calgary always saw that potential.”
Tkachuk was among the Flames players who were sad to see him leave.
“We weren`t pleased, especially since he`s a good friend,” he remarked. “I wasn`t happy about his trade from Calgary, but I was equally thrilled to see him get a new opportunity here.”
Brad Treliving, currently GM of the Maple Leafs, was in charge of the Flames when they traded Bennett and a sixth-round draft pick in April 2021. In return, Calgary received a 2022 second-round pick and winger Emil Heineman, who was later traded to Montreal as part of a package for winger Tyler Toffoli.
From a logistical standpoint, the trade was rational for Calgary. They faced the likelihood of losing Bennett for free in the upcoming Seattle expansion draft, or, if they retained him, they would have had to issue a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, involving a salary increase.
At the time of the transaction, Treliving conceded that Bennett`s development and usage in Calgary might have been managed “a little bit differently.”
Treliving stated, “I don`t place blame on Sam. Ultimately, Sam worked hard here; that was never a problem.” He added, “I believe he will welcome a new beginning.”
Bennett valued the fresh start with the Panthers organization.
He commented, “I certainly had difficulties in Calgary for a period. Upon arriving here, the team`s welcoming attitude and the opportunities they provided from the outset were significantly different from what I experienced in Calgary.” He continued, “I seized that chance and quickly found some success. Although our team has changed considerably since I first arrived, I retained that confidence.”
Bennett made an immediate positive impact, scoring a personal best of 28 goals in his inaugural season with Florida, contributing to a team that finished with the NHL`s top regular-season record.
However, the subsequent offseason brought major changes: Coach Andrew Brunette was replaced by Paul Maurice, and Matthew Tkachuk arrived from Calgary via trade for Jonathan Huberdeau. Huberdeau, Bennett`s highly skilled former linemate, didn`t possess the distinct qualities Tkachuk brought to the team.
Coach Maurice observed, “Sam Bennett transitioned from playing alongside Jonathan Huberdeau – a fantastic, very skilled player, and Benny can match that style – to playing with Matthew Tkachuk.” He added, “This naturally altered his game somewhat.”
This transition catalyzed Bennett`s transformation into a true “playoff animal.” He already possessed scoring ability and skill, along with a knack for performing in crucial playoff moments. Tkachuk`s presence seemed to amplify Bennett`s grit and ability to provoke opponents, and he embraced the aggressive playing style, shaping the Panthers` current hard-nosed identity.
Bennett commented, “I believe our team`s style evolved, and it actually suited my personal game even better. That gave me increased confidence to play my way.” He continued, “I`ve accumulated a fair number of playoff games by now and have consistently felt compelled to perform at my best when the stakes are highest.”
Bennett is driven to win, often pursuing victory regardless of the cost.
Bennett is known for physical collisions with opposing skaters.
His history includes a one-game suspension for boarding in May 2021 and a three-game ban in January 2022 for an illegal check to the head of Montreal`s Cedric Paquette. More recently, he controversially punched Brad Marchand during the Panthers` 2024 playoff series against Boston, causing Marchand to miss two games, yet Bennett received no disciplinary action.
Last month, Marchand lightheartedly remarked on Bennett`s “good right hook,” recalling their days as opponents.
Marchand also shared his perception of Bennett off the ice: “He`s not as serious as I initially thought. Watching him on the ice or around the media, he appeared quiet and quite reserved.” He added, “Once you get to know him, he`s actually quite talkative, very humorous, and a great person to be around. But when he`s on the ice, his intensity is palpable. He doesn`t engage in trash talk during the game; he`s completely focused on the task.”
Bennett also frequently makes contact with opposing goaltenders. Indeed, quite often.
In Game 1 of the second round, he collided with Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz, a former Panthers teammate. Stolarz sustained a concussion and was sidelined for the remainder of the series.
He also made contact with Carolina`s Frederik Andersen in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, he fell into Stuart Skinner`s net after battling with defenseman Brett Kulak, inadvertently scoring when the puck deflected off him. He had another collision with Skinner in Game 2, resulting in a goaltender interference penalty that, upon review, appeared unwarranted, as Bennett seemed to trip over Skinner`s leg as the goalie attempted to move.
During a post-game interview on TNT early in the Stanley Cup Final, Bennett was informed that a significant number of people in Alberta (Edmonton`s province) did not want to see him near their net.
Bennett`s response was defiant: “That`s exactly where I`m going to be for the duration of this series.”
His physical play around the net, often involving contact with goalies, has frequently led to moments of frustration and the question “How does he get away with that?” among fans and opposing players.
Oilers winger Evander Kane commented, “Naturally, you don`t appreciate players intentionally falling on your goaltender. That`s never ideal, and you hope officials take notice.” He added, “You can`t retaliate with a major penalty early in the game; that helps no one. However, there are alternative ways to address it, such as maintaining aggression and driving hard to their net in return.”
Before joining the Panthers via trade this season, defenseman Seth Jones previously played against Bennett and had to defend him near the crease.
Jones described facing Bennett, saying, “As a defenseman, you observe how he operates around the crease. He pushes off opponents, makes himself a large obstacle, and also screens the goalie effectively.” He concluded, “That continuous physical engagement around the net significantly enhances his performance and makes him challenging to defend.”
Aaron Ekblad, Bennett`s teammate for five seasons, believes Bennett creates these dangerous scoring chances by consistently positioning himself in the most challenging areas of the ice.
Ekblad remarked, “Often, there`s little you can do if he`s being pushed. Similar to Corey Perry, he excels at getting into position between the defenseman and the goalie, leaving opponents with limited options.” He added, “Players like them possess a unique talent for this; they are among the best in the league at it.”
In this playoff run, Bennett has arguably been Florida`s top performer in many aspects. This exceptional play comes at a crucial point in the veteran center`s career.
Bennett is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, concluding the final year of a four-year contract with Florida valued at an average of $4.425 million annually. Speculation suggests Bennett could potentially command a salary exceeding $10 million per year on his next deal.
He has clearly found satisfaction playing for the Panthers, attributing it not only to the team`s success but also to the support he has received from teammates and coaches.
He commented, “I feel incredibly fortunate to have excellent teammates, linemates, and coaches who believe in me.” He concluded, “I believe that combination is ideal for achieving success.”
Regardless of whether he re-signs with Florida or seeks a higher salary elsewhere, Bennett`s value will be judged primarily by his playoff performance rather than his regular-season statistics. He has never reached the 30-goal mark in a season, and this past campaign was his first exceeding 50 points.
His worth will be measured by his proven success in championships, his reputation as the “definition of a playoff player,” and, as Marchand aptly put it, for simply being a “beast” when it truly matters.
