It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’re nearing American Thanksgiving at the end of the month. However, some general managers have already been thinking about making deals. A few of these extensions have already gotten taken care of. However, there are a number of deals left to be signed. The GMs don’t want key players to get into the open market, so it’s important to sign these contracts. One of these teams that wants to take care of a key signing is the Florida Panthers. This edition of NHL rumours takes a look at how talks may progress with an important player.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Florida Panthers Want to Keep Important Forward
Rumour: Former NHLer turned hockey analyst Ed Jovanovski talked about how talks may shape up between the Panthers and impending unrestricted free agent Sam Bennett. This was during Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s Hockey Show.
Will Sam Bennett take a team-friendly contract to stay in Florida?
Ed Jovanovski discusses the factors in the #Panthers forward's extension negotiations with @mattymar89 & @futamichael. #TimeToHunt
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📻 https://t.co/tEtiRUX67X pic.twitter.com/0MtYs2ajf6— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) November 7, 2024
Analysis: Panthers General Manager Bill Zito has done a solid job in keeping together most of their core. There have been a few players like Brandon Montour leave via free agency. However, Zito has managed to keep a good portion of this group intact.
Players like Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe and others have helped form a winning culture in the Sunshine State. These players could get more money on the open market, but they may have taken less in order to keep a decent chunk of the roster together.
Zito signed Verhaeghe to an extension earlier in the season and Sam Reinhart was inked to a deal on July 1. Other players like Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell are also locked to at least the end of the 2030 season.
Panthers Looking for Bennett to Stay
Jovanovski said that Bennett likely wants to stay a Panther for most of the rest of his career. The veteran defenceman thinks that contract talks have already started and thinks they’re going in the right direction.
Bennett is a useful player that doesn’t mind getting his nose dirty and will do the little things to help a team win. Players like that getting on the open market will be hot commodities. However, Zito doesn’t want it to get to that point.
The 28-year-old centre currently carries a cap hit of $4.425 million and is seeking a well-deserved raise. In a previous edition of NHL rumours, a piece from The Fourth Period mentioned that Bennett could see him get $6 million to $7 million depending on term.
Other Things to Attend To
Florida will also have figure out what to do with Aaron Ekblad in the coming off-season. The veteran blueliner is also a pending UFA and is making $7.5 million per season.
Zito does have tools like no state tax and the nice weather. It also helps that there’s a winning environment down in Sunrise. Players may be likely to take less if they’re playing meaningful hockey late in the season.
The Panthers still have time to get a deal done. However, it would be a nice Christmas present to get this piece of business taken care of.
Main photo by: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
