October 19, 2024 | 9:12pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

BENNETT CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ONGOING WITH FLORIDA

Sam Bennett, forward

After the Florida Panthers locked up forward Carter Verhaeghe to an eight-year extension, management began negotiations with Sam Bennett for a new deal of his own.

As TFP reported on Oct. 9, those discussions got underway and Bennett could see his next deal come in between $6 million and $7 million per season, depending on term.

Bennett, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, is in the final year of a four-year, $17.7 million contract and is in line for a solid raise.

During the “Saturday Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that talks are ongoing between the Panthers and Bennett’s camp, though a move is not yet close and other teams are keeping tabs on the situation.

“There’s nothing to report at this point in time, in terms of being close to a deal or anything like that, but this is one a lot of teams in the League will be looking at,” Friedman said. “It’s very hard to find good centres, and Bennett is a good centre, a big piece of (the Panthers). According to several people I’ve spoken to, there appears to be the ability to make a deal here, but nothing is done until it’s done and we’ll see where it goes from here. But lots of teams watching to see if Bennett hits the open market.”

Bennett will surely secure a hefty raise over his current $4.25 million AAV, but how much more remains to be seen.

Following Saturday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights, Bennett has recorded four goals and three assists for seven points in in seven games so far this season.