Elliotte Friedman's Latest Report on Sam Bennett Spells Bad News for the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman's latest report regarding Sam Bennett's future could spell disaster if the Maple Leafs were thinking about pursuing him this summer.
While Sam Bennett looks towards winning a potential second straight Stanley Cup, he's also got to have his future in the back of his mind as well. A pending free agent at the end of the season, he'll have his fair share of suitors come July 1.
Though he's not your biggest offensive catalyst, he offers a unique blend of grit, physicality and playoff dominance that few tend to have. Florida would love to keep him, but it might take a lot considering how many teams want him.
Sam Bennett May Very Well End Up Staying: NHL Insiders
According to Elliotte Friedman however, the Panthers are keen to keep him and they could potentially mimic a current deal with one of their most underrated performers:
Carter Verhaeghe's at 8x7, that's where they want to get Sam Bennett, and I think he wants to stay.
This statement echoes what NHL Insider Chris Johnston also wrote regarding the future of Bennett in Florida, also noting he thinks that he might not even see July 1:
I'm not convinced Sam Bennett will get to free agency.
It's not too shocking to hear that Florida wants to keep him around, given how important he'e been to their success in recent years. Since coming over from Calgary, Bennett has truly grown into his own.
In five years with Florida, he has 196 points (95G, 101A) while adding 151 blocks, 616 hits, 351 PIM and a plus-46 rating; a 113-point leap from that stat in Calgary.
Florida Hoping To Keep Core Together But Could Cost Them
Bennett was making only $4.425M on his latest deal, and will clearly get an increase come summer. Copying Verhaeghe's contract makes a lot of sense too.
Verhaeghe is barely older than Bennett, though he has less experience. He's a better offensive point producer than Bennett, and is a fantastic playoff performer but Bennett offers a physical edge.
You're essentially getting a more offensive and speedier version of Bennett in Verhaeghe, and getting a grittier, nastier version of Verhaeghe. They're two peas in a pod, and Florida would be able to keep their core together until at least 2030.
The one thing they need to worry about however is if Bennett feels he deserves more than $7M, and with reports of a bidding war that could reach upwards of $10M; they might have to raise the price a bit.
So if they want to keep him around, they may need to pay him a bit more than Verhaeghe; especially if he's vital in them winning a second straight Stanley Cup.
Players like Bennett don't come around too often, and Florida's awareness has to be on point or they may risk losing a huge part of their identity.
| POLL | ||
MAI 27 | 524 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman's Latest Report on Sam Bennett Spells Bad News for the Maple Leafs Do you think Sam Bennett will sign an extension with the Florida Panthers? | ||
| Yes | 400 | 76.3 % |
| No | 124 | 23.7 % |
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