In Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, a specific sequence of plays perfectly demonstrated how Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett has developed into a formidable playoff force. This particular shift showcased his complete game.
The shift started with a defensive backcheck, followed by a forceful yet legal hit on an Oilers forward after he released the puck. Bennett then pursued the puck along the boards before attempting a clear. When a teammate recovered the puck, Bennett surged forward, seizing an opportunity for a breakaway that resulted in a goal, extending Florida`s lead in a dominant 6-1 victory.
“That shift was a perfect example of his game: Blows two guys up and then he somehow leads the rush after that to score a beautiful goal. He can do it all,” commented Brad Marchand, a former rival who is now Bennett`s teammate. “He has been an animal this whole playoffs. He`s built for this time of year.”
Bennett has consistently proven this point in every round of the playoffs. He currently leads the NHL postseason in goals with 14, four more than Edmonton`s star Leon Draisaitl. This marks Florida`s third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, and in that period, Bennett has scored more goals (26) than any other Panthers player.
“You just see him year after year, playoffs after playoffs. That’s where he makes his name,” stated Matthew Tkachuk. “He`s the definition of a playoff player. And it`s really fun to play with him, especially at this time of year.”
His offensive production, with 20 points in 20 games, leads the team. Notably, he has been particularly effective away from Florida, recording 12 goals and three assists for 15 points on the road, which is the highest total in the playoffs.
Following the Panthers` Game 3 victory, which brought them within two wins of securing their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, Bennett became a leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the NHL playoff MVP.
Throughout this postseason run, he has been a impactful presence across all zones, but his punishing forecheck and aggressive play around the opponent`s net have been key drivers of Florida`s offense.
“I think that’s one of the biggest separators that he has is when you get in this time of year that you have to be in the dirty areas and he lives there,” Marchand noted. “A lot of guys get pushed at this time of year, but [it’s great] when you have that ability to and skill to capitalize in front of the net.”
Even his opponents acknowledge his effectiveness in the playoffs.
“He`s always played with an edge, ever since he was a little guy. Nothing that we haven’t seen before — he’s playing well, scoring goals,” said Edmonton captain Connor McDavid. “We’ve got to figure him out.”
This moment of MVP-level performance is the latest development in Bennett`s unconventional 11-year NHL career. He went from a draft prospect known for failing a pullup test to a Stanley Cup winner who consistently frustrates opponents through sheer will and physicality.
From Draft Prospect to Playoff Performer
Sam Bennett was selected fourth overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2014 NHL Draft, behind three other players competing in the current Stanley Cup Final: Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad (1st), center Sam Reinhart (2nd, drafted by Buffalo), and Edmonton`s Leon Draisaitl (3rd).
As a center for the OHL`s Kingston Frontenacs, Bennett displayed significant offensive skill along with defensive responsibility, tallying 91 points in 57 games during the 2013-14 season. He cited Hockey Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour, known as `Killer` for his tenacious two-way play, as his role model.
However, heading into the 2014 draft, Bennett gained notoriety for a different reason: he couldn`t complete a single pullup at the NHL scouting combine. This unexpected event became a widely reported story, partially defining him before Calgary selected him fourth overall. Other players offered support, and Bennett later performed five pullups for a television special to counter the doubts.
“I knew right away he`d be embarrassed by that. He likes to succeed in everything he ever tries. Now we can joke about it, but when it first went down it was like, `Oh, buddy, yikes,`” his mother told Maclean`s in 2014. “The fact that some people in the media doubted his motivation made me think, `Oh god. They don`t know Sammy at all.`”
Bennett`s first full NHL season was at age 19 in 2015-16, where he recorded 18 goals and 18 assists in 77 games, but received no votes for the rookie of the year award. The following five seasons were marked by his unfulfilled potential in Calgary, with modest scoring totals and limited ice time. Despite this, his performance in playoff games was consistently higher than his regular-season rate.
“He`s always had the talent. He`s always had the work ethic, he`s always had the bite, the jam, everything. I think a lot of it has got to do with opportunity,” commented Tkachuk, who played with Bennett in Calgary. “He didn’t get the opportunity in Calgary that he has here with the minutes and how he’s utilized and everything. I don’t know why that is… but he’s just taken off as a whole new player here in Florida for everybody to see.”
Tkachuk was among the Flames players who were sad to see him leave.
“We weren’t too thrilled, especially him being a great buddy of mine, I was not too happy when he got traded from Calgary,” he said, “but I was also so happy to see him come here and have a chance.”
Brad Treliving, now GM of the Maple Leafs, was running the Flames when they traded Bennett and a sixth-round pick in April 2021. The trade was partly motivated by the upcoming Seattle expansion draft and Bennett`s contract status. At the time, Treliving acknowledged that Bennett`s development in Calgary could have been “handled a little bit differently.”
“I don’t put that on Sam. I think at the end of the day, Sam worked hard here. That was never an issue,” Treliving stated. “I think he’s going to embrace a fresh start.”
Bennett appreciated the new beginning with the Panthers.
“I definitely struggled in Calgary for a while. I think once I got here, just how the team embraced me, the opportunity the team gave me, really from the beginning, was totally different than what I was getting in Calgary,” he explained. “I took that opportunity and found some success early.”
Bennett immediately made an impact in Florida, scoring a career-high 28 goals in his first season as the Panthers finished with the NHL`s best record. However, the team underwent significant changes the following offseason with a new coach, Paul Maurice, and the arrival of Matthew Tkachuk.
“Sam Bennett goes from playing with Jonathan Huberdeau — fantastic player, very skilled and Benny can play that game — to playing with Matthew Tkachuk,” Maurice observed. “So his game changes a little bit.”
It was in this new environment that the `playoff animal` version of Bennett truly emerged. Already possessing scoring touch and clutch performance, playing alongside Tkachuk amplified Bennett`s tenacity and willingness to agitate opponents, solidifying the Panthers` identity as a physically demanding team.
“I think our style changed, but I think it even fit my style of game even more so. That gave me even more confidence to go out and play,” Bennett reflected. “I’ve got quite a few playoff games under my belt now, and always felt the need to perform when the game’s the biggest.”
Bennett plays with an unwavering drive to win, often pushing the boundaries to achieve it.
Physicality and Presence: Collisions and Scoring
Bennett is known for his aggressive physical play, often colliding with opposing skaters.
He has faced disciplinary actions in the past, including suspensions for boarding and an illegal check to the head. In the 2024 playoffs against Boston, he famously punched Brad Marchand, an incident that sidelined Marchand but resulted in no penalty for Bennett.
“He`s got a good right hook,” Marchand joked last month, recalling their past interactions before becoming teammates. “He’s not as serious of a person as I thought he was… Once you get to know him, he’s actually pretty vocal and really funny and a good guy to be around. But when you see him on the ice, he’s so intense. He doesn’t really chirp… He’s all business.”
Bennett also has a reputation for colliding with goaltenders, frequently parking himself in the opponent`s crease.
He was involved in collisions with goalies in earlier rounds, including one that led to a concussion for Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz. In the Stanley Cup Final, he fell into Stuart Skinner`s crease in Game 1, with the puck deflecting off him for a goal. He collided with Skinner again in Game 2, receiving a penalty that was later seen as questionable.
When informed on a postgame show that many in Alberta didn`t want to see him near the Oilers` net, Bennett`s response was clear: “That’s where I’m going to be for the rest of this series.”
His persistent physical presence around the crease has often left opponents and fans frustrated, wondering how he seems to avoid penalties for these actions.
“Obviously, you don’t like when guys are purposely falling into your goaltender. That’s never good, and you hope that gets noticed,” said Oilers winger Evander Kane. “You can’t go out and take a 10-minute penalty in the first period… But there are other ways to handle it. Staying aggressive and going hard to their net as well.”
Seth Jones, who now defends alongside Bennett in Florida, knows firsthand how difficult he is to handle in front of the net.
“As a defenseman, you see where he gets around that blue paint. He pushes off. He makes himself big. Screens goal as well,” Jones described. “It’s just that constant body contact around the net that really elevates his game and makes it difficult to handle.”
Aaron Ekblad, Bennett`s teammate for five seasons, believes Bennett earns these opportunities by battling in the most challenging areas of the ice.
“A lot of times there’s nothing you can do if he gets pushed, right? Just like Corey Perry, he’s extremely good at getting there and being between the D-man and a goalie, so there’s not much you can do,” Ekblad commented. “Those guys have a knack for it. They’re some of the best in the league at it.”
Bennett has been exceptional in many aspects of this playoff run for Florida, and this performance comes at a pivotal point in his career. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, concluding a four-year contract with an average annual value of $4.425 million. Speculation suggests his next contract could command significantly more.
He has expressed happiness with his time as a Panther, crediting his success to the support and opportunities provided by the team and teammates.
“I’m just very fortunate to get some great teammates and great linemates and great coaches that believe in me,” he said. “I think all that together just is the perfect combination to have success.”
Regardless of where he signs next, the value placed on Sam Bennett will be rooted not in his regular-season statistics (he`s never hit 30 goals or exceeded 50 points before this season) but in his proven championship pedigree. He embodies the `definition of a playoff player` and, as Marchand puts it, is simply `an animal` when it matters most.
