October 9, 2024 | 6:10pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
BENNETT NEXT IN LINE FOR DEAL IN FLORIDA?
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Sam Bennett, forward
With Carter Verhaeghe now locked into a new eight-year contract extension in Florida, forward Sam Bennett could be the next Panther in line for a new deal.
As TFP’s Dennis Bernstein and David Pagnotta discussed on Tuesday ahead of Verhaeghe signing, Pagnotta noted that Bennett may also be up for a new long-term contract.
As Pagnotta later reported, contract negotiations between the Panthers and Verhaeghe’s camp picked up Sunday and Monday before the two sides agreed to a deal on Tuesday.
Verhaeghe signed an eight-year, $56 million contract and owns a $7 million salary cap hit starting next season.
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.
The 28-year-old could see his next deal come in between $6 million and $7 million per season, depending on term.
Contract negotiations between the Panthers and Bennett’s agent could pick up steam now that Verhaeghe is inked to his deal.