The Florida Panthers may have just lifted their second consecutive Stanley Cup, but attention is already turning to what lies ahead. Three major names, Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad, are due to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1. General manager Bill Zito, fresh off another championship run, expressed cautious optimism about keeping all three.
Florida Panthers’ Core Faces Big Decisions After Back-to-Back Cup Wins
“I think we can bring them all back,” Zito stated on TSN after the Game 6 win over the Edmonton Oilers. When asked if it would require hometown discounts, the Panthers GM simply smiled and said, “Let’s just leave it at that.”
“I think we can bring them all back…”
Panthers GM Bill Zito joins James Duthie and the TSN Hockey panel to chat about the Cup win, his trade deadline acquisitions, and how confident he is that he can re-sign Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad: https://t.co/S19NH0m7YA pic.twitter.com/FzBD5V4uqU
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) June 18, 2025
Zito’s confident but guarded remarks come at a time when the Panthers have about $19 million in cap space and three cornerstone players with uncertain futures. Each player’s case is unique.
Bennett is coming off a stellar postseason. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, leading all players with 15 goals, 13 of which came on the road. After arriving in Florida via trade in 2021, Bennett has developed into a reliable and dynamic two-way center. His $4.425 million cap hit is expected to rise considerably this offseason.
Speaking to the media after the Cup win, Bennett made his feelings clear.
“This is the team I love to play for,” he said. “These are my brothers on this team. It’s remarkable what we have done”.
Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad Could Be Key to Sustaining Success
Marchand, who was acquired at the trade deadline, scored six goals in the Stanley Cup Final alone. At 37, staying with a winning team could appeal more than chasing a larger deal elsewhere. However, Marchand also stated that local tax advantages will play a role in his decisions as he enters free agency.
“If you have two teams that are offering the same contract,” he said, “you’re going to pick the team with less tax.”
Ekblad, drafted first overall by Florida in 2014, just wrapped up an eight-year, $60 million contract. He’s spent his entire career with the franchise and expressed hope of staying.
“I’m not in much control of that at the moment,” he told reporters. “When the time comes, I’m sure those tough conversations will be had.”
Did Aaron Ekblad play his final home game in Florida?
“I sure hope not…. I don’t know what’s gonna happen, and I’m not in much control of that at the moment. To live in the moment is most important for me. When the time comes, I’m sure those tough conversations will be had.”
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) June 18, 2025
While Zito’s comments were brief, the implication is clear: the Panthers aim to keep the championship core together. Whether that means hometown discounts, creative structuring, or other roster moves remains to be seen.
