The Florida Panthers, current Stanley Cup champions, feature Sam Bennett as a vital piece of their lineup.
As the Panthers face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the playoffs, Bennett made headlines in Game 1 for a hit to the head of goalie Anthony Stolarz, which forced Stolarz to leave the game on a stretcher.
Following the incident, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast that he was surprised Bennett hadn’t already signed an extension with Florida. “I got a call Tuesday afternoon (May 6) from a league source who said he was shocked Bennett hadn’t re-signed by then, especially after the buzz surrounding Monday night,” Friedman said on May 7. “He told me all this attention is the perfect kind of spotlight to reinforce why Bennett should stay with the Panthers.”
Friedman added that the league source—who works for another team—was convinced Florida GM Bill Zito and coach Paul Maurice had emphasized how tough it would be to find a better situation elsewhere. “He said it was the best thing that could’ve happened if the Panthers want to keep him,” Friedman noted.
Both Friedman and the league insider believe Bennett is likely to stay in Florida. He’s finishing a four-year, $17.7 million contract and is expected to earn a raise. Bennett had 25 goals and 26 assists for 51 points in 76 games this season.
Panthers’ Bennett Opens up on Controversial Hit
Sam Bennett delivered an elbow to the back of Anthony Stolarz’s head during Game 1, forcing the goaltender to leave the game and ruling him out for Game 2.
Bennett didn’t address the media immediately after the game, but broke his silence following practice on May 6. “I heard he went to the hospital, and he’s a good friend of mine. I reached out and he responded,” Bennett said. “You never want to see something like that happen. From my perspective, I was just driving the puck to the net—I didn’t even realize we made contact until afterward.”
The play did not result in a penalty or suspension.
Panthers Coach Saw No Issue With Bennett’s Hit
After the controversial hit in Game 1, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice defended Sam Bennett’s actions and saw no wrongdoing in the play.
Maurice downplayed the incident, saying Bennett wasn’t targeting Anthony Stolarz but was simply trying to get to the net. “Most of this for me is tempered by the fact that Stolie is one of our guys—we love that guy,” Maurice said on May 6. “If I thought Sam had crossed a line or gone over the edge, I’d be more cautious with my words. But I just didn’t think that was the case.”
Florida is set to face Toronto again in Game 2 on May 7 at 7 p.m. ET.
