Florida Panthers’ Sam Bennett wins Conn Smythe Trophy. Now, a big decision looms
After the Florida Panthers secured their second consecutive Stanley Cup on Tuesday, one of their key players got major recognition before he could potentially be heading to free agency.
Center Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the MVP of the playoffs.
“My whole focus is on winning the Stanley Cup,” Bennett said. “And that’s truly what I’m most proud of right at this moment. Obviously, it’s a huge honor, but it really could have went to 25 guys. Every single guy played a huge part. We had so many MVPs in this playoff run. So it really could have went to anyone.”
Except Bennett certainly had his case. Bennett scored a league-high and Panthers postseason record 15 goals in the playoffs, including five in the Cup Final. This included an NHL-record 13 goals on the road.
“For Sam Bennett to be here today with this group of guys, to have the success he’s had, there’s a lot of heaviness that he had to go through,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “There’s a lot of work that had to go into him knowing his talent and saying ‘Feed me, and I’ll show you how good I am.’”
Bennett has shown it throughout his Panthers career. He got a reset when Florida acquired him from the Calgary Flames in April 2021.
He immediately began producing and became the embodiment of Panthers hockey. He had 15 points in his first 10 games with the Panthers after the trade and put up another five points in five games that postseason.
Bennett never stopped producing after that. Even with the Panthers shifting to a more forecheck and defense-first approach over the past three years under Maurice, the center has put up 196 points (95 goals, 101 assists) over 289 regular-season games while laying out 616 hits and blocking 151 shots.
For comparison, Bennett had just 140 points (67 goals, 73 assists) in 402 games in Calgary.
And then he thrived in the playoffs, with it all coming together at the highest level this season to be a leading charge in Florida’s repeat.
“So well deserved,” said star Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk, who played on Bennett’s line and was his teammate in Calgary. “He was a piece all playoffs. There’s so many guys that were unbelievable, but he was very well deserving. I don’t even know how many goals he had. I stopped counting after he had like five, but he was incredible.”
It’s a monumental achievement for Bennett, who is due to become a free agent on July 1 unless the Panthers can resign him before that.
All postseason — and particularly since the start of the Cup Final — Bennett has brushed aside talk about his future. The Panthers had a Stanley Cup to win. That took priority.
“It’s actually been pretty easy,” Bennett said after morning skate Tuesday. “I mean, competing for a Stanley Cup has always been my goal and my passion and what I’ve wanted to do. So, that’s just my focus. That’s all I want and it’s been quite easy to just not even think about what’s to come. I mean, yeah, it’s really just a singular focus and that’s how I’ve tried to handle it.”
Regardless of what happens, the Panthers have a special place in Bennett’s heart.
“It’s a huge honor to be a part of this group,” Bennett said. “I’m not going to take it for granted. I love being here, and I love this team. It’s a remarkable team to be a part of, just from the whole staff to the players to the management, the owner, the coaches. Truly, everyone is world-class here.”
This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 12:59 AM.
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