The Florida Panthers crushed the Edmonton Oilers 6-1 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, and it’s clear the Oilers’ problems won’t go away once the postseason ends.
While the Panthers’ offense tore apart Edmonton’s defense, no one frustrated Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner more than Sam Bennett. The Panthers’ center has been on fire, scoring four goals in the finals so far.
Just three weeks remain until NHL teams can make moves to boost their offense. But if anyone had hopes of landing Bennett, they’re probably out of luck.
Sam Bennett Is Unlikely To Leave the Panthers Come the Offseason
Multiple insiders have confirmed that the forward enjoys playing for the franchise a little too much to depart during the offseason. The Athletic’s James Mirtle says the likelihood of Bennett leaving the Panthers isn’t high.
“Sorry to disappoint any fans of teams that need a center, which honestly feels like at least half the league right now—but no one I spoke to around the league expects Sam Bennett to be available,” Mirtle reported.
And the feeling seems to be mutual. After all, with 25 goals and 26 assists across 76 regular-season games, Bennett has been one of the key reasons for the Panthers reaching their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final. With four goals against the Oilers, he has proven that he doesn’t crack under pressure.
But if we assume that Bennett takes the old route of taking a pay cut to remain in South Florida, his annual paycheck will still be $8 million. With the Panthers’ current cap space, some cuts must be made.
The brunt of this cut might fall upon blueliner Aaron Ekblad, who might see himself sitting on the transfer market as general manager Bill Zito tries to find a new guy for the backline. Meanwhile, the other unrestricted free agent, Brad Marchand, even at 37, seems to be the top choice for the Panthers’ offense.
With 23 goals and 28 assists across the regular season, Marchand has been too integral to the offensive barrage for the Panthers. His additional eight goals and 10 assists in the postseason have further cemented his position as a forward.
But if Zito decides to keep Marchand around in addition to Bennett, an additional $8 million would be spent. This can lead to some tough decisions for Zito and the Panthers. But for now, the franchise is solely focused on securing its second consecutive Stanley Cup.
Game 4 of the Stanley Cup will be on Thursday, June 12. While trailing 2-1, the Oilers still have time to bounce back. If they do, it will mark the first time since 1990 that the Edmonton outfit will get its hands on the Cup.