Panthers GM Bill Zito makes clear statement on Sam Bennett after $64 Million contract, Conn Smythe win

After leading the Florida Panthers to their second straight Stanley Cup title with a historic postseason run, Sam Bennett is staying in South Florida for the long haul. The 29-year-old forward has signed an eight-year, $64 million contract that will keep him with the team through the 2032–33 season.

Bennett’s new deal comes just days after he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, following a playoff performance in which he scored 15 goals and set an NHL record for most road goals in a single postseason. The contract carries an average annual value of $8 million, reflecting his elevated role in the franchise’s championship success.

Speaking after the announcement, Panthers GM Bill Zito didn’t mince words about Bennett’s value to the franchise. “Sam is a special player who has mastered a unique blend of skill and physicality in his game, becoming one of the most impactful postseason performers of his generation,” Zito said, according to NHL.com. “We are thrilled that he will continue his career with the Panthers.“

A contract that rewards clutch play

Bennett earned the Conn Smythe by scoring 15 playoff goals, including a record-setting 13 on the road, and tallying 22 total postseason points. He became the first Panther to ever win playoff MVP honors.

Sam Bennett #9 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with the Stanley Cup following the Cup win against the Edmonton Oilers in Game Six of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Despite the individual accolades, Bennett remained humble and credited his teammates. “There truly are 25 MVPs on this team,“ Bennett said. “I’m obviously super grateful, it means the world to me, but I really couldn’t have done it without this whole group.”

see also

NHL News: John Tavares breaks silence on Mitch Marner’s uncertain future after signing new Maple Leafs deal

He also added that his focus remained singular throughout the playoffs: “My whole focus was on winning the Stanley Cup.”

A cornerstone of the Panthers’ core

Originally drafted No. 4 overall by the Calgary Flames in 2014, Bennett has now totaled 336 points in 691 regular-season games and 78 playoff points in 107 postseason appearances. His back-to-back Cup runs with Florida—scoring 14 points in 2024 and 22 in 2025—cement his reputation as one of the NHL’s most reliable playoff performers.

Off the ice, Zito praised Bennett’s commitment to the South Florida community and confirmed that the team sees him as a central figure in their long-term plans.

With his extension finalized, Bennett joins a core that includes Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sergei Bobrovsky, as the Panthers aim for a potential three-peat in 2026.