“If you look at the heat this team catches, it’s actually really unfortunate,” said Brad Marchand in the post-match presser following the Florida Panthers’ elimination of the Maple Leafs from the playoffs. However, despite the seasoned star’s confidence in the Leafs being a capable squad, Toronto’s cracks couldn’t help but be blatantly on display after they caved in against the Cats in Game 7 of Round 2. But those gaping holes could be reversed, and soon.

The Eastern Conference semifinals were a treat for every hockey fan around the world. The Canadian squad took an early lead in the series, but the Panthers quickly bounced back with three consecutive wins. The Leafs regrouped and won Game 6 to push the series into a nail-biting thriller final match-up. But Florida proved to be too much of a brute force for Craig Berube’s boys. But one of the Cats’ own could help change that for the Maple Leafs in the next season.

Sam Bennett‘s four-year-long contract will expire by the end of this season, making the 28-year-old an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this summer. Naturally, seeing how he has been a crucial part of the Florida Panthers winning the Cup and then vying to defend it, some NHL pundits seem to think that this is a golden opportunity for the Maple Leafs to capitalize on the situation. In an X post by NHLonTNT, former player Paul “Biz Nasty” Bissonnette talked about why the race to land a deal with Bennett is perfectly justifiable.

“There’s a reason that teams are going to be lined up to pay Sam Bennett 10, 11 million dollars for seven, eight years, whatever they can get their hands on,” Biz could be heard saying as his colleagues couldn’t help but sneer if the analyst was referring to Toronto. Paul has admitted on several occasions that he’s a fan of the Maple Leafs and wasn’t caught off guard by the jibe. Instead, he responded quite flatly, “I would pay a few million of that if I could, if I could get inside Charlie Osterwein’s wallet.”

However, considering how well Sam Bennett has been for the Florida Panthers all season, one might wonder: What could bring about even the remotest speculations about the forward being let go by the 2024 Stanley Cup champs? Well, for starters, Bennett isn’t exactly the Boy Scout you’d think he is. Au contraire!

Sam has a long history of taking the fight to Florida’s opponents at every chance he’s got. In Round 2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Panthers’ star elbowed Anthony Stolarz so hard that the latter was seen coughing up blood on the Leafs’ bench. The scenes made even fans beyond the hockey world clench their breaths, and Stolarz had to be given special care.

However, coach Paul Maurice refused to give in to the community’s clamor and see his star player as the criminal. “Go ahead, run with it. We’re good,” the veteran coach instead brushed off any demands to vilify Sam Bennett. Maybe it was that passive green signal by the coach that made the Florida Panthers’ star child have a go at the Canes’ Andrei Svechnikov again tonight.

In the 3rd period of Game 3 at the Amerant Bank Arena tonight, Bennett got into a rumble with the Carolina winger, which the refs had to intervene to break up. Could it be that such unhinged antics on the ice are exactly what’s making the Panthers’ top brass reconsider the star’s contract extension? Debatable, but unlikely. Because Florida, for one, is never shy to drop its gloves in the blink of an eye.

The Florida Panthers don’t exactly set the best example for Sam Bennett

Ask anyone, and the answer will be unanimous: The Florida Panthers are a bunch of rowdy athletes who are always ready for a good fight. From captain Matthew Tkachuk to Aaron Ekblad, keeping a leash on most of the roster is a difficult task that even paul Maurice sometimes seems to struggle with. Tkachuk has been out of the starting lineup since February, ever since he picked up a lower-body injury at the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off. But he didn’t take much time to get back to his usual self upon returning.

While many fans weren’t happy about how Tkachuk was available for the playoffs, the American wonder kid kept his eyes on the prize: defending the Stanley Cup with all might. And in Game 3, he got the opportunity to show why he’s essential to the Florida Panthers’ hope of retaining the Cup in Miami. At the cost of a penalty, Tkachuk landed a major blow on the Bolts’ Jake Guentzel, but thankfully, walked away from the entire thing without attracting any serious punishment from the NHL.

Safe to say that Sam Bennett has been learning from the best, huh? However, despite being a force to be reckoned with, Bennett’s future in Florida is increasingly getting more and more attention from the community. Moreover, just days ago, Elliotte Friedman sparked more fuel into the fire by saying, “The word in the press box Thursday night as Florida played in Toronto was that talks have resumed between Bennett and the Panthers,” but refusing to elaborate on the matter.

So, how do you think things are going to pan out in the coming weeks? Share your take with us!