Bill Zito, Panthers reportedly complete perfect trifecta involving Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad

How could this happen? The Florida Panthers have apparently maxed out the game in the NHL offseason. Following the franchise’s second straight Stanley Cup, general manager Bill Zito has worked his magic once again. As a result, the Cats will reportedly roll into the upcoming season with Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, and Sam Bennett all back in the lineup.

The Panthers really took their time with their pending free agents. But once they got to work, they completely shook the NHL. In heart-crushing fashion for the rest of the league, Bennett, Ekblad, and Marchand were all taken off the market. Zito and the Cats have sent a powerful message to everyone: they’re just getting started.

Organizations like the Toronto Maple Leafs were already salivating at the thought of signing Marchand, but almost at the buzzer, the Panthers reached an agreement with the veteran. Toronto were reportedly willing to give Marchand a much bigger offer, but the accolades Florida has amassed spoke for themselves.

That’s what you call a rat trick

According to reports from insider Elliotte Friedman, Brad Marchand is closing in on a six-year extension with Florida worth just under $32 million. If accurate, the Panthers would be allocating approximately $5.3 million in cap space annually to Marchand.

Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers arrives before playing the Edmonton Oilers in Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 09, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.

Not many believed it could be accomplished. But the Panthers did, and their players showed more than enough willingness to stay in town. Now, the NHL has been really put on notice. A dynasty is brewing in the beaches of Fort Lauderdale, and not even the salary cap seems to be a problem.

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Somebody must leave

Panthers fans can’t be bothered with anything other than the incredible feat accomplished by the organization’s front office. Still, there’s a cold fact the Cats must accept: they’ll be over the salary cap and, therefore, will have to part ways with some players to make room.

Evan Rodrigues has been generating buzz lately, as his $3 million cap hit could give Florida some much-needed breathing room. It seems like the obvious move. However, it might not be the only one—many are hinting that RFA Mackie Samoskevich could also be shipped off, as the 22-year-old would be welcomed with open arms by just about any team in the league.