Sam Bennett's UFA eligibility this summer is making his future with the Florida Panthers the subject of speculation. It is believed that its going to come down to whether Bennett prefers life in Florida or will be pursuing top dollar elsewhere.
One of those top dollar opportunities is rumored to be with the New Jersey Devils. And for the fanbase — he seems to be the guy everyone is talking with the Devils.
The Devils could obviously use a player of Bennett's caliber. What would he bring to the table?
1. A two-way center
Bennett has quickly emerged as one of the best NHL's two-way centers and most notable pending NHL UFAs. His 45 points recorded this season mark his fourth straight season recording 40+ points. He's also a Selke Trophy candidate, proving his value as one of the top two-way players at his position. He even beat out Nico Hischier for a Selke nomination.
2. Postseason experience
The 28-year-old has been a regular player in the playoffs, contributing significantly to both the Calgary Flames and the Florida Panthers. He's played key roles in helping the Florida Panthers advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023 and '24. He had 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) and was second on the Panthers with 84 hits in 20 playoff games before Florida lost the 2023 Final in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights, and 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 19 games of the 2024 postseason en route to becoming a Stanley Cup champion.
The Devils haven't had much playoff success as of late. After three decades where they made five Stanley Cup Finals and won three Cups, the Devils have just one round win since 2012. Bennett can help the Devils get over the hump.
3. A good fit for the roster
As we wrote less than a week ago, Bennett fits in really well with the Devils' roster. To be more specific he could provide a major boost to New Jersey's physical presence on the ice and offensive production.
Bennett could likely fit in well as a bottom-six forward and/or could always be added as a center or a winger with a physical edge. He could move around the lineup and push people into better bottom-six roles.
But not everything makes sense for the Devils, as there's one major con
1. Cap Space
According to PuckPedia, the New Jersey Devils have $12,044,167 in projected cap space and a projected cap hit of $83,455,833. Bennett's most recent contract — expiring on July 1st — was a four-year deal with the Florida Panthers worth $17,700,000. This gave him an average annual salary of $4,425,000.
We already know that Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is planning to shake up the New Jersey roster in a major way.
"We won't be coming back with the same group because it was just not good enough," Fitzgerald said in early May.
Should Fitzgerald be looking to secure Bennett for real and offer up the necessary high price tag, it's going to do some damage to the remaining cap space.