Bennett signs four-year contract with Panthers

Sam Bennett signed a four-year contract with the Florida Panthers on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 25-year-old forward could have been a restricted free agent Wednesday. He scored 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 48 regular-season games for the Calgary Flames and Panthers this season, including 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 10 games after he was traded to Florida on April 12. He was the center on the second line with left wing Jonathan Huberdeau and either Patric Hornqvist or Owen Tippett.
"I never felt so comfortable in my life playing hockey," Bennett said Tuesday. "It's sometimes odd to go to a new team and feel that comfortable right away, but everything was clicking. Right away I got the opportunity, the coaching staff believed in me, and then found some great chemistry with the players. I got to play with great players and that always helps. The early chemistry was amazing, and I think that really helped me build my confidence and helped me have the early success.
"I didn't really know what was going to happen right away. I think everything was in play with regard to length of contract, from one year to four, and I just loved my time in Florida. I loved the opportunity I got there, I loved my teammates there, and for me, four years is a no-brainer. I'm so happy to get that deal done and be locked in. It's a great team we have there, so just really excited about that."

Bennett scored five points (one goal, four assists) in five games in a six-game loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup First Round. He was suspended for Game 2 by the NHL Department of Player Safety for boarding Lightning forward Blake Coleman.
Selected by Calgary with the No. 4 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Bennett has scored 155 points (73 goals, 82 assists) in 412 regular-season games for the Panthers and Flames and 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 35 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"Sam's impact on our club this past season was seen immediately, injecting physicality, skill and energy into our lineup," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. "We are thrilled to have him in our Panthers lineup and look forward to what he can bring to our offense in the upcoming 2021-22 season."
Forward Sam Reinhart was traded to the Panthers by the Buffalo Sabres on July 24, giving Florida three of the top four picks from the 2014 NHL Draft: Reinhart (No. 2, Sabres), Bennett and defenseman Aaron Ekblad (No. 1). Three other Panthers were chosen in the top 10: forwards Aleksander Barkov (No. 2, 2013), Huberdeau (No. 3, 2011) and Tippett (No. 10, 2017).
"Right away when I saw [the Reinhart] trade, I actually texted 'Huby' right away and we were both super excited about that, and then I reached out to 'Reino,'" Bennett said. "I know him a little bit from the draft and growing up playing hockey. Getting a great player like that, it just shows how much this team is ready to win and committed to winning. It makes me so excited to get the season started, and my confidence for this team is through the roof right now."
The Panthers (37-14-5) were the No. 2 seed in the Discover Central Division, one standings point behind the No. 1 seed Carolina Hurricanes. Florida has not advanced in the playoffs since going to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996.
"I think we're very close, and now with some of the moves we're making, I think we're getting even closer," Bennett said. "We have a really good team that just seems to be getting better and it's going to be a fun year, that's for sure."
NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers and independent correspondent Alain Poupart contributed to this report