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Greg Wyshynski
Florida Panthers playoff MVP Sam Bennett informed followers through the crew’s Stanley Cup celebrations this week that he wasn’t leaving.
He was a person of his phrase.
Bennett signed an eight-year contract extension with Florida, the crew introduced hours earlier than the NHL draft Friday evening. He was set to grow to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, when he would have been probably the most coveted facilities obtainable.
Bennett’s new contract has a wage cap hit of $8 million yearly, up from $4.425 million on his earlier contract however under what Bennett was anticipated to be provided from different groups as a free agent. The Panthers are one among a number of NHL groups that play in a state with no revenue tax, which has grow to be a hot-button challenge within the league as groups resembling Florida, Tampa Bay and Vegas have all gained Stanley Cups just lately.
Bennett, 29, had 25 targets and 26 assists in 76 video games through the common season. To say he ranges up within the playoffs could be an understatement: Bennett had 11 targets and 12 assists (23 factors) in 21 video games, taking part in a bodily recreation that resulted in him profitable the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Final postseason, Bennett had 14 factors in 19 playoff video games through the Panthers’ first of back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.
“Sam is a particular participant who has mastered a novel mix of talent and physicality in his recreation, changing into probably the most impactful postseason performers of his era,” Panthers GM Invoice Zito stated. “He performed an integral function in our two Stanley Cup championships, incomes the franchise’s first Conn Smythe Trophy and is a devoted contributor to our South Florida group off the ice. We’re thrilled that he’ll proceed his profession with the Panthers.”
In his 691 video games with the Panthers and Calgary Flames, from which Florida acquired him in 2021, Bennett has 162 targets and 174 assists.
Bennett was one among three high-profile pending unrestricted free brokers for the Panthers this offseason, together with winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.