After signing Sam Bennett to an eight-year contract extension, general manager Bill Zito made sure to remind him, Matthew Tkachuk, and the Florida Panthers of the brand of hockey in Sunrise. With all eyes fixed on the pending free agents like Brad Marchand, the Cats know better than to let it be a distraction for their goals in the NHL.
Bennett has now joined an elite list of Panthers who will be under contract at least for the next five NHL seasons. Along stars like Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Gustav Forsling, and others, Bennett’s new deal keeps the core intact. A dynasty now sounds more like a possibility and not as much as an utopia.
Bill Zito has done it again, but the job’s not finished. The Panthers’ GM has made it clear he wants to retain both Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand, too. That’s a tall task, nonetheless. Regardless, he is confident, even hinting at possible timelines for those deals.
Tkachuk and the rest of the team cannot help but be invested in their teammates’ futures after hoisting back-to-back Stanley Cups. Still, Zito has made one thing clear to the locker room as they enjoy the perks of being champions in South Florida.
Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers celebrates after his team defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.
“The hockey focus every day is win. So as long as we keep that focus, we’ll be OK,” Zito said, via Jameson Olive on X, formerly Twitter. “Don’t get comfortable. What else can we do? There’s so much else we can do.“
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Panthers GM Bill Zito makes clear statement on Sam Bennett after $64 Million contract, Conn Smythe win
Run it back
The Panthers’ second Stanley Cup came in dominant fashion. Florida showcased a level of superiority over the rest of the league that left little room for doubt. Humiliation and lopsided dominance were the name of the game this time around, and logically, the Cats don’t want to see the core of their team go. They are now getting greedy—they want more.
“My preference – and maybe I’m hoping – is that there’s enough for guys to want to stay to be a part of this and be treated fairly and be happy. That’s the most important thing,” Zito said about the team’s desire to re-sign Ekblad and Marchand.
Brad Marchand #63 of the Florida Panthers heads out for the game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena on May 24, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.
On the lookout
If Marchand and the Panthers are unable to agree on an extension before the July 1st deadline, there is one NHL team who will be ready to pounce. The potential suitor? None other than the Toronto Maple Leafs. Perhaps it would be a means of vendetta for the franchise after the recent playoff loss to the Cats.
“The Maple Leafs would consider Brad Marchand their top priority if he becomes a free agent,” insider Darren Dreger stated recently on TSN.
