The puck drops for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, June 3. All eyes will be on the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. But quietly, one name keeps climbing the list of postseason standouts: Sam Bennett.
Bennett has been a big part of Florida’s playoff run this year. With 10 goals and six assists in just 17 games, he’s shown he can deliver in clutch moments. His mix of timely offense and gritty play has made him a key piece up front. But back in 2014, it wasn’t his scoring that made headlines — it was a pull-up test. Projected as a top-five pick, the 17-year-old forward couldn’t finish a single pull-up at the NHL Draft Combine.
Now, Bennett is gearing up for his third trip to the Stanley Cup Final in the past three years, hoping to help Florida repeat as champs. This time, there’s a twist: He’ll go head-to-head with his childhood teammate, Connor McDavid.
Sam Bennett’s Infamous Zero Pull-Up Moment at the 2014 NHL Draft Combine
One headline grabbed everyone’s attention in 2014 and sparked plenty of debate: Bennett couldn’t complete a single pull-up at the combine.
That could’ve been a setback. Instead, it became a moment that showed his resilience.
“Really didn’t think it was that big a deal until the next couple of days when it went crazy,” Bennett said.
Throwback to when Sam Bennett put up a goose egg on the pull-up bar at the 2014 NHL Draft Combine 😅
Bennett has come a long way since 💪 pic.twitter.com/7oJEkUCJrO
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 4, 2025
At the time, Bennett was a highly rated prospect out of the Ontario Hockey League. He had just wrapped a standout season with the Kingston Frontenacs and was seen as one of the most complete players in the draft.
But once word got out that he couldn’t do a single pull-up, the focus shifted from his on-ice talent to what happened in the gym.
Now in his fifth season with the Panthers, Bennett has become a key part of a team that’s always in the mix. He’s found his place in Florida, both on the ice and in the locker room, and fits well with the team’s fast, physical playing style.
Bennett has been one of the top performers in the playoffs this year, and his stock is rising fast. If he hits free agency on July 1, he could be the most sought-after center available. There’s a good chance other teams will offer more than the Panthers can — or will — pay.
But hockey isn’t just about money. Bennett knows how rare NHL success is, and even rarer is finding the kind of chemistry and winning culture that Florida has built. When asked about his future, he didn’t make headlines. Instead, he said something that matters: “Florida is a good fit.”
That wasn’t just a throwaway line. It showed that Bennett understands what he’s part of — a team chasing a title, a place he fits, and a chance to keep it going.
