June 19, 2025 | 12:40pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

PANTHERS AIMING TO KEEP BENNETT, OTHERS

Sam Bennett, forward

The Florida Panthers remain in celebration mode after winning the 2025 Stanley Cup on Tuesday, but management will soon shift its focus to roster decisions starting this week.

Panthers GM Bill Zito told multiple outlets during the team’s on-ice Cup celebration that he hopes to find a way to keep the club’s three top pending unrestricted free agents, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand.

Forwards Tomas Nosek and Nico Sturm, defencemen Nate Schmidt and Jaycob Megna, and backup goaltender Vitek Vanecek are also eligible to become UFAs July 1.

As TFP’s David Pagnotta reported earlier this month on NHL Network, citing sources, there appears to be a pathway to an extension with Bennett and his new deal could come in the neighborhood of an eight-year, $64 million contract.

The Panthers and Bennett’s camp planned to resume contract negotiations after the Cup Final, and those discussions are expected to get going this week. He remains a top priority for the organization.

Ekblad is looking for a competitive contract, but the Panthers have been trying to get him inked to a new deal worth less than the $7.5 million AAV he has on his current contract and may have been trying to get him signed in the $6 millions, which he has not been open to.

It is possible Ekblad hits the open market to evaluate his options, even though his preference is to stay in South Florida.

There has been plenty of speculation over Marchand’s future, and while he may hit the open market, as well, he has voiced his interest in staying with the Panthers moving forward. He would, however, need to take a fair discount compared to what he may get in free agency, as reports claim he may command around $8 million per season on a three-year deal.

If Marchand ends up staying in Florida, he may be looking at a three-to-four-year deal worth around $5 million to $6 million, per season.

The Panthers have $19 million in salary cap space and will need to be creative in how they form their roster next season, but the expectation is at least one of Bennett, Marchand or Ekblad will return. Beyond that, Nosek could re-sign for a slight raise instead of a slightly larger deal via free agency.