SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Bennett may have gone to free company and picked his touchdown spot, plus in all probability may have signed for way more cash than the Florida Panthers have been capable of supply.
As a substitute, he selected successful.
Bennett, the reigning Conn Smythe Award winner as playoff MVP of Florida’s most up-to-date run to the Stanley Cup, spoke out Saturday about his determination to signal an eight-year, $64 million deal with the Panthers. His reasoning was really fairly easy.
“I feel we have now much more success in our future,” Bennett mentioned.
It’s not arduous to ascertain that, given how the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions now have eight core gamers — Bennett, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Gustav Forsling, Anton Lundell and Seth Jones — below contract via at the very least 2030.
Bennett’s standing, particularly after successful the Conn Smythe following a 15-goal efficiency within the playoffs, might need appeared to be in some query a pair weeks in the past. He introduced at a Miami nightclub final week that he was staying — there was no deal on the time, and his agent wasn’t glad that he did that — nevertheless it was clear that Bennett hoped one thing would get finished in Florida.
Teammates have been evidently thrilled when the information broke Friday evening.
“I acquired like three FaceTimes immediately from the boys,” Bennett mentioned. “A few them have been collectively they usually have been so fired up. The group chat was going nuts. I’ve mentioned it 1,000,000 occasions, this group is so tight. So many guys that actually care about one another. I used to be positively feeling the love final evening.”
Bennett is crucial to the Panthers at each ends. He was one in all three gamers within the NHL this season — Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk’s brother, and Washington’s Tom Wilson have been the opposite two — with at the very least 50 factors and 90 penalty minutes.
He mentioned his determination got here right down to not seeing a have to take dangers. He loves taking part in in Florida, loves being a part of the Panthers, loves who he goes to work with day-after-day. Extra money or a brand new function wasn’t going to outweigh all of that.
“I feel we actually have the prospect to really make this crew a dynasty,” Bennett mentioned. “I’m actually simply grateful that I get the prospect to be part of it. There are such a lot of items on this puzzle that create this crew and the success that this crew has. And simply to be a small piece of that’s an honor. Wanting ahead to rising this legacy for the subsequent eight years, for positive.”
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