Panthers' Sam Bennett Signals Stay During Stanley Cup Celebration

During the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup celebration in Miami, star forward Sam Bennett publicly declared his intention to remain with the team despite entering unrestricted free agency on July 1, quoting a memorable line from the film "The Wolf of Wall Street." While no official contract has been signed yet, ongoing negotiations indicate Bennett is a priority for the Panthers, who have ample salary cap space to retain him alongside other key free agents like Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand. Bennett, who won the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and led the league with 15 playoff goals, has become an integral part of the Panthers' core since being acquired from Calgary in 2022. His career resurgence in Florida has been marked by consistent scoring and physical play, making him a fan favorite and a cornerstone of the team's recent back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Panthers general manager Bill Zito expressed confidence in retaining all three of the club's top free agents to continue the team's winning trajectory. The enthusiasm of the Panthers' players and supporters at the celebration underscored the strong team chemistry and the desire to keep their championship window open.