Panthers' Sam Bennett Hints At Playing In Toronto At Some Point

Florida Panthers forward and Stanley Cup champion Sam Bennett spoke to the TSN crew on August 27 and he hinted at the possibility of returning to Ontario at some point in the future, potentially to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bennett, who hails from Holland Landing, Ontario, has been spending his offseason back home, enjoying the aftermath of the Panthers’ first Stanley Cup victory and parading the chalice around town.

In an interview on TSN’s “First Up,” Bennett reflected on his Stanley Cup win and shared his thoughts about spending time back in southern Ontario. Most interestingly, when asked about the possibility of returning to play in Ontario, Bennett was non-committal to doing it or not, simply saying “Yeah, you never know.”

As is the case every time someone from the Toronto area is about to hit free agency, speculation about Bennett's future has been brought to the forefront as he enters the final year of his contract with Florida.

"Since I’m here all summer, fans see me all the time," Bennett said. "And (Leafs fans) actually always have something to say, like they hate me, but they always end with, ‘I want you to be a Leaf one day!’"

As Bennett’s contract with the Panthers nears its end, questions arise about whether he will sign a new deal with Florida or explore free agency, with the Leafs potentially being a top suitor.

Bennet's last season under contract carries a cap hit of $4.4 million as part of the total $17.7 million, four-year deal he inked in July 2021.

Known for his gritty, physical style of play, Bennett has made for a perfect fit in Florida’s system under Head Coach Paul Maurice.

Bennett acknowledged the reputation he has earned among hockey fans, saying, "I think there’s definitely a lot of people that don’t like the way I play... but sometimes it’s necessary to just do whatever it takes to win."

As good as that fit is, and as it's been the case for many other players in the past including for former Leafs captain John Tavares, the allure of returning to his home province might be too strong to resist.

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