Forward Sam Bennett is having a phenomenal postseason run for the Panthers, and it’s coming at an opportune time for the pending free agent. The soon-to-be 29-year-old is set to land a hefty contract, and TSN’s Elliotte Friedman shared on radio show SN590 that while the Panthers have reportedly offered Bennett a deal similar to Carter Verhaeghe’s recent extension, he believes it won’t be enough to keep him in Florida.
The Panthers and Verhaeghe agreed to an eight-year extension in October. He will earn $7MM each year of the deal, with $46MM of the $56MM being paid out in bonuses. Florida also gave Verhaeghe a six-year no-move clause that began this past season and will last the first five years of his new deal. However, Friedman believes Bennett has priced himself out of a similar deal.
“I think they tried to sign Bennett to the Verhaeghe deal, which was eight years times $7MM with bonus structure. That’s not going to get it done,” he said.
While Verhaeghe and Bennett posted similar regular-season numbers (Verhaeghe recorded 53 points to Bennett’s 51 this past season), Bennett has elevated his game in the postseason. While playing with his usual physicality, Bennett has taken his game to another level ahead of free agency with an impressive 15 goals in 22 postseason games. Add in that he and Mitch Marner are poised to set the market for free agents as the top two names available, and Bennett is poised for a big payday. Even if he takes a hometown discount to remain in Florida, he’ll command much more than his expiring deal, which came with a $4.425MM AAV. To keep Bennett in the fold, the Panthers may need to offer a deal closer to the eight-year, $69MM extension that kept star Sam Reinhart off the market last summer. That deal came with a cap hit of $8.625MM per season.
However, as Friedman points out, the Panthers have some other key pending free agents to consider, including franchise staple Aaron Ekblad and veteran Brad Marchand, who is having his own heroic postseason run. With $19 million in cap space, per PuckPedia, Panthers GM Bill Zito will need to get creative if he hopes to retain all three players next season. And while hometown discounts are always possible—especially for a team as successful as Florida—Friedman cautions that those can’t be relied upon.
“I think people can always take a little less, and that’s fine. Do what makes you happy. But while you’re always willing to take a little bit less, the question is how much? I think for every person that’s different. And I think there are some teams out there that are really prepared to make Marchand some big, short-term offers. And nothing in the playoffs has changed my opinion on that. In fact, it’s only grown. So, I think the biggest question for Florida is what they can do against what some other teams are going to be able to do,” he said.
$9M+ is what his AAV will be after July 1
My guess is that they lose Bennett and Ekblad but keep Marchand.
I’ve been saying Sam Bennett is going to the open market especially with his agent Darren Ferris who’s known for pushing his clients to test FA. Florida has been reluctant to go over $7.5M AAV for Bennett as reports claim he wants somewhere between $8 to $9M AAV.
Aaron Ekblad’s chances of staying in Florida depends on if Bennett stays or goes.
Brad Marchand may stay in Florida but it depends on various circumstances as Marchand has made it clear he’s about collecting his market value (which is projected around $8M) over term.
Ekblad should be the priority, look at how the team played during his suspension. Samoskevich and Sourdif are ready to take roster spots.
Nope, they need Bennett more than Ekblad, and besides Ekblad’s replacement is cheaper and signed for 5 more years!
Seth Jones may be Ekblad’s replacement, but that made Ekblad Montour’s replacement.
Agree on Ekblad being the priority. If they were to lose Bennett they can move Lundell to 2C & Loustarinen back to C/3C. Would keep Marchand.
I bet Bennett and Marchand will both be back next year.
I know what Bennett brings to the table outside of points and his playoff performances are the things of legend (I can’t stand him as an oilers fan but would love him on my team) but an AAV of 8-9 per season for 51 points man these salaries are just goofy. I will say if there’s one 50 point guy that should make that much I’ll concede, he should, but I don’t think any 50 point forward should make over 7 or even 6. Maybe I’m stuck in the past but that’s outrageous.
With how much the cap is going up, we will be looking at salaries very differently in a few years.
Panthers need Bennett and Bennett needs the Panthers. They’ll get it worked out. Not sure there will be enough money left for Ekblad though.
if there ever is a player who should stay we’re he’s at .. it’s bennett .. his Calgary years were ugly
Calgary usually deployed Bennett as a bottom 6 player.
Elliotte Friedman works for SportsNet not TSN.