The NHL offseason is always ripe with speculation, and this year one of the hottest names on the market is Sam Bennett. With the Florida Panthers forward entering the final year of his contract, Sam Bennett rumors are beginning to dominate the headlines—and not just because of his controversial elbow on Anthony Stolarz. NHL insiders believe a reunion with the Calgary Flames could be in the works.
Flames Ready to Make Big Free Agency Push for Sam Bennett
According to Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg, the Flames are expected to be aggressive suitors should Bennett test unrestricted free agency. On his Flames Talk podcast, Steinberg stated, “I do think if Sam Bennett becomes available in unrestricted free agency, the Flames will go hard after him. I believe they’ll present one of the best offers and try to convince him to return to Calgary.”
Drafted fourth overall by Calgary in 2014, Bennett spent seven seasons with the Flames before being dealt to the Florida Panthers in 2021. While he struggled to consistently find his offensive game in Calgary, his time in Florida has changed the narrative. Over the past four seasons, Bennett has become a legitimate second-line center, producing four consecutive 40+ point campaigns and hitting career-highs this year with 51 points, 26 assists, and 7 power-play goals.
Where Bennett has shined the most is in the postseason. He was a clutch performer during Florida’s run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, scoring seven goals and adding three power-play assists. His physical, playoff-style game makes him an ideal top-six option for any team hoping to compete deep into the spring.
From a salary perspective, Bennett is expected to command a long-term deal in the range of seven years at $7–8 million AAV, a considerable jump from his current $4.425 million cap hit. While that’s a significant investment, the Flames have cap flexibility and motivation to bring back a fan favorite who has clearly taken the next step in his career.
Personal Insight: As someone who covered Bennett during his early years in Calgary, it’s remarkable to see his evolution into a postseason force. He struggled to find his identity under previous Flames coaching staffs, but Florida unlocked his potential. That makes the idea of him returning to Calgary all the more intriguing—it’s a different player, and a different Flames team. If GM Craig Conroy is serious about reshaping the team, bringing Bennett back could be a savvy move both for on-ice performance and fan morale.
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