WATCH: Sam Bennett Drops HUGE Bomb Regarding Future During Stanley Cup Victory Celebration

Sam Bennett is currently in the final year of his 4-year contract and will become an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) if he does not sign an extension.

WATCH: Sam Bennett Drops HUGE Bomb Regarding Future During Stanley Cup Victory Celebration

Sam Bennett would make a major announcement regarding his future at a nightclub in Miami (Image via X/@BarDown/X/@FlaPanthers)

Sam Bennett played a crucial part in helping the Florida Panthers secure back-to-back Stanley Cup wins. On Thursday during the celebration of repeating as champions, the Canadian international dropped a huge bomb regarding his future.

During the postseason this year, Bennett took on the job of scoring some important goals. Despite receiving backlash for some of his hits in earlier series, he continued to chip in for his team and helped them move on.

The center player would finish the playoffs with 15 goals, the most scored by any player this year. Along with his 7 assists, he finished the campaign with 22 points in the playoffs and was thus named as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, an honor given to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the playoffs.

He is currently in the final year of his 4-year, $17.7 million deal. If he does not reach with a contract extension with the team before July 1, he will become an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA).

A day before his 30th birthday though, Bennett dropped a massive update. While celebrating the Stanley Cup victory in a nightclub in Miami, the player would channel his inner-Jordan Belfort from The Wolf of Wall Street movie and expressed that he was “not f****** leaving.”

I’m not f****** leaving.

There had been several reports that claimed that the Panthers were prioritizing his re-signing above other free agents. Following this words from him, the excitement levels have once again risen in the Panthers fandom.

Matthew Tkachuk uses Panthers fans to influence Sam Bennett’s decision

While there is no official confirmation as of yet, it does though seem like Sam Bennett would re-sign with the Florida Panthers. During one of the celebration at the Elbo Room, Matthew Tkachuk would use the Panthers fans to influence the decision of his teammate.

Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett
Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett (Image via Sportsnet)

While celebrating their win with the cup, Tkachuk would remind Bennett that Florida is a no income tax state. Fans present to watch the celebration would join in on the chants of “no state tax” and urged him to sign an 8-year contract extension with “eight more years” chants. Check out a video regarding this below:

Just like Bennett, Tkachuk played an important role in the Panthers going back-to-back. Despite having some health issues, the American international continued to play for his team and was the joint-top point scorer for his team at 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) alongside Sam Reinhart (11 goals, 12 assists), and Carter Verhaeghe (7 goals and 16 assists).

Sam Bennett admits going back-to-back was way harder than he thought

The Florida Panthers on Tuesday became just the 10th different franchise in NHL history to go back-to-back and successfully defend their crown. After the game, Sam Bennett admitted that going back-to-back was way harder than he thought it would be.

Sam Bennett
Sam Bennett (Image via X/@NHL)

In the cap era of the NHL, only two teams had been successful in going back-to-back. The Pittsburgh Penguins did it in 2016 and 2017 and Panthers’ state rival, Tampa Bay Lightning did it in 2020 and 2021.

During the playoffs, the situation did become a bit troublesome for the Panthers. In the second round series they found themselves 2-0 down against the Toronto Maple Leafs. While they eventually came back and won in Game 7, things could have gone in different direction for The Cats.

It’s really, it’s hard to describe. I mean, this is way harder than I thought it would be to win and to win twice. We put in so much work for this and I’m so proud of this group. I’m so proud of all the guys. It’s the best feeling in the world.

While repeating as champions is hard in the NHL, winning 3 successive is even more difficult. The last team to win 3 straight Stanley Cup titles were the New York Islanders who won 4 straight from 1980 to 1983. Before them, the Montreal Canadiens won 4-in-a-row from 1976 to 1979.

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