Panthers' Sam Bennett says he 'ain't f****** leaving' Cup champions
Conn Smythe Trophy winner says that he isn't leaving the South Florida club
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Sam Bennett “ain’t f—ing leaving.”
His words. Not ours.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett says he 'ain't f****** leaving' Cup champions Back to video
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During a Florida Panthers Stanley Cup celebration party in Miami on Thursday night, Bennett, on stage with teammate Sam Reinhart, indicated to a frenzied crowd that he’s going to re-sign with the Panthers rather than hit free agency on July 1.
Via text on Friday morning, Bennett’s agent, Darren Ferris, told us no new contract with the Panthers was done.
“It was an incredible and emotional night for the Panthers and well-deserved,” Ferris said. “The celebrations have been amazing to see, and Sam’s just taking it all in with his teammates right now.
“At this time, no contract has been signed — when there’s something official, we’ll share it accordingly.”
Panthers general manager Bill Zito said on Tuesday night after the Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers to repeat as Cup champions that he thinks he can bring back all three of the club’s bold-face potential free agents — Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad.
At the least, expect Bennett talks between Ferris and Zito to pick up.
Along with Mitch Marner (another Ferris client), Bennett would be at the top of the free-agent list.
After winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP, Bennett is line for a major bump in pay. The centre, who is celebrating his 29th birthday on Friday, is coming off a four-year contract that carried an average annual value of $4.425 million US.
Another substantial name came off the free-agent board on Thursday when Matt Duchene, who had 82 points in 82 games last season with the Dallas Stars, signed a four-year pact to remain in Dallas. Duchene’s AAV is $4.5 million, leading some to speculate that the Leafs could retain John Tavares with a similar AAV. It’s likely too low to keep Tavares in Toronto, no matter the length of a potential contract.
As for a union between the Leafs and Bennett, as much as he represent a major alteration to the club’s DNA that general manager Brad Treliving seeks, don’t count on it. In the small chance (seemingly) that Bennett goes to the open market, he reportedly doesn’t have interest in signing with Toronto.
X: @koshtorontosun
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