One of the biggest expected off-season free agents will not be hitting the open market after Florida announced Friday that they have signed Sam Bennett to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension ($8 million AAV). The 29-year-old is coming off an impressive Conn Smythe-winning playoff performance, with 15 goals, 22 points and a +6 plus/minus in 23 games played.
Bennett missed Saturday's game due to rest-related purposes but will draw back into the lineup vs. New York on Monday. The 28-year-old forward reached 50 points for the first time in his 11 year career this season with 25 goals and 50 points in 74 games played.
Bennett has likely been ruled out of the Panthers' lineup for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. That said, head coach Paul Maurice stated that he will be ready to play in the postseason. The 28-year-old Bennet has 50 points (25G / 25A) in 74 games this season.
Bennett snapped a season-worst three-game pointless skid with an assist on Monday but was sidelined on Wednesday due to an illness and will be a game-time decision on Friday. The 28-year-old Bennett is pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 27 points (13G / 14A) in 31 games while maintaining his rugged style, recording 39 penalty minutes and 71 hits.
Bennett snapped a season-worst three-game pointless skid with an assist on Monday but will be sidelined due to an illness on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Bennett is pacing for a career-best offensive season, with 27 points (13G / 14A) in 31 games while maintaining his rugged style, recording 39 penalty minutes and 71 hits.
According to head coach Paul Maurice, Bennett had something "tighten up," which prevented him from playing the previous game for the Panthers. Mackie Samoskevich will draw out of the lineup to make room for Bennett's return.
According to head coach Paul Maurice, Bennett had something "tighten up," which prevented him from playing the previous game for the Panthers. He added that even if Bennett doesn't play Thursday, he won't be out long-term. Jesper Boqvist moved up to the Panthers' second line with Bennett out.
According to head coach Paul Maurice, Bennett had something "tighten up this morning and it didn't loosen up throughout the day." He added that even if Bennett doesn't play Thursday, he won't be out long-term. Jesper Boqvist moved up to the Panthers' second line with Bennett out.
Bennett was a late scratch on Tuesday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. Mackie Samoskevich will likely draw into the lineup in his place.
Bennett has been out since the second game of Florida's first-round victory over Tampa Bay but will be a game-time decision after skating prior to Game 3 vs. Boston on Friday. The 27-year-old will make a welcome addition to the Panthers' lineup after picking up 20 goals, 41 points, 171 SOG, 100 PIMs and. +17 plus/minus through 69 regular season games played.
Head coach Paul Maurice announced last week that he was hoping to get Sam Bennett back for Florida's second series and the forward returned to practice on Tuesday in his next step of recovery. The 27-year-old is still considered day-to-day for the time being but will make a welcome return when he does find himself back in the lineup, having picked up a goal and an assist in his first two playoff games before his injury.
Bennett missed the Panthers' previous three games due to an upper-body injury and will remain out for Game 1 on Monday. The 27-year-old appeared in the first two games of Florida's opening series and picked up a goal and an assist to go along with four SOG and two PIMs.
It was a good sign on Wednesday as Sam Bennett skated for the fist time since his upper-body injury held him out of the lineup and is a high possibility to return for Game 1 of Florida's second series. Bennett appeared in two games in Florida's opening series, and had a goal, an assist, four SOG and two PIMs.
Bennet took a puck to the hand and exited Tuesday's 3-2 game-two victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning after playing only 7:42 time-on-ice. Despite leaving early in the second period, Bennet still managed to end game two with a two-point effort, scoring one goal and one assist.
Bennett will not play on Thursday as he is battling an undisclosed injury. The 27-year-old Bennett has two goals in his last two games and 32 points (16G / 16A), 133 shots, and 124 hits in 54 games this season. Jonah Gadjovich will draw back into the Panthers' lineup on Thursday.
Bennett's impending return is welcome news for him and the Panthers after he was injured after playing just 7:54 in his season debut. Bennett had 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 SOG, 54 PIMs and, a +5 plus/minus in 63 games played in 2022-23.
