You’d think that after winning the Stanley Cup, NHL analysts would give the Florida Panthers a break from advice for the time being. Apparently, you’d be wrong.
During an episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, NHL analyst Paul Bissonnette publicly gave Panthers general manager Bill Zito some thoughts surrounding the reigning Conn Smythe winner, Sam Bennett.
Bennett remains an unrestricted free agent heading into this summer, and there has been plenty of talk about what offers he could get when reaching the market.
For Bissonnette, he believes the Panthers should offer the 28-year-old Bennett an eight-figure deal.
Paul Bissonnette’s Thoughts on Panthers’ Sam Bennett
Bennett led the NHL postseason with 15 goals. In a recent SN 590 segment, league insider Elliotte Friedman shared that contract talks between Bennett and the Panthers are progressing well.
Bissonnette added more fuel to the fire, saying that not only is it fair that Bennett receives a $10 million payday, but he is more entitled to it than other players currently in the league.
Give Sam Bennett TEN MILLION.https://t.co/BhUOo4whQj pic.twitter.com/Znxz6WygDu
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) June 21, 2025
“Sam Bennett just scored more goals in this playoff run than Nikolaj [Ehlers] has in his entire playoff f***ing career. Sam Bennett just scored more goals in this playoff run than Nikolaj has in his entire playoff f***ing career,” Bissonnette said.
Ehlers recorded seven points in this year’s NHL playoffs across eight games for Winnipeg, featuring five goals and two assists. The left winger has a career playoff total of 21 points from 45 games played.
“[Imitating critics] ‘You [Bennett] only had 51 points in the regular season.’ I don’t give a flying f**k. Half their team didn’t even f***ing finish the regular season,” Bissonnette also said. “They were just resting them. They didn’t even care about winning their f***ing division. All they cared about was the first f***ing game of the playoffs.”
Bennett has a career playoff total well over double Ehlers’s. In addition to helping the Florida Panthers advance to their third straight Stanley Cup Final, he has 78 career playoff points including 40 goals and 38 assists in 107 games played.
“And who scored the most f***ing goals going into the other f***ing team’s barn? Third f***ing team by Sam the Menace. Bennett, baby, 10 million all day. You guys hear me in the chat? 10 f***ing million, baby,” Bissonnette said at the end of his rant.
Bissonnette’s passionate endorsement highlights the growing confidence in Bennett’s value, especially after his clutch postseason performance. Panthers fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as contract talks continue, hoping the team secures the star forward for the long term.
