Overview

• Sam Bennett signed an eight-year, $64 million extension Monday, carrying an $8 million annual cap hit and keeping him under contract through the 2032–33 season.
• Bennett’s league-leading 15 playoff goals and Conn Smythe Trophy win were cited as the driving force behind Florida’s decision to re-sign their postseason MVP without waiting for free agency.
• The new deal reduces the Panthers’ offseason salary-cap flexibility from roughly $19 million to about $11 million, tightening funds available for other marquee negotiations.
• General manager Bill Zito has now secured eight core players—including Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk—under long-term deals in a bid to preserve the back-to-back Stanley Cup nucleus.
• With Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad still unsigned, analysts warn that committing $8 million per year to a 29-year-old forward could constrain Florida’s ability to retain or replace other key contributors.