Big money and star power. Sam Bennett has come to a real inflection point by signing an eight-year, $64 million contract with the Florida Panthers that runs through the 2032-33 season, almost doubling his existing cap hit and marking his evolution to the franchise player. The Panthers are rejoicing since they are able to hold onto a playoff hero, but Bennett looks beyond 'hockey'. Together with fiancée Zoe Zeleny, he is already planning how to leverage this success for their off-ice cause, meaning his reach now extends way beyond the ice.
After his record NHL season and $64 million deal, Sam Bennett and Zoe Zeleny restate their commitment to ‘Benny’s Buddies’
This contract extension could not have been better timed. Fresh off his second straight Stanley Cup win and Conn Smythe Trophy, Bennett set pen to paper on an eight-year, $64 million contract extension. The Florida Panthers winger will now be taking home $8 million a year for his services until the 2032-33 season, vastly overshadowing his old cap hit of $4.425 million.
Bennett's 2024-25 stat line was peak Bennett: 51 points; 25 goals, 26 assists, and seven power-play goals occur rarely. The playoffs, however, sealed his reputation. Performing in clutch moments, he set an NHL record by scoring 13 goals on the road and racking up 15 goals in total, earning him MVP honors.
But off the ice, it was something very personal that defined what this contract was all about. On a recent Zoom call, he was wearing a "Benny's Buddies" cap, referring to the charitable foundation which he and his fiancée, Zoe Zeleny, started. The two started that program to help children and families in the local community, and this new deal will allow them to do so on a much bigger scale.
According to Panthers TV reporter Katie Engleson, Bennett said, “That was one of the first things me and my fiance talked about. We get to continue Benny’s Buddies.” The quote not only speaks to the excitement surrounding the contract but also to the couple's commitment to turning professional success into action.
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Rasmus Andersson trade buzz: Toronto Maple Leafs eyeing a $27 million veteran to fix defensive woesThe $64 million contract for Bennett guarantees much more apart from just his tenure with the Panthers-the investment continues to hold a bit of the commitment Brennan and Zoe have retained for the community. While he goes about his business and shines in the big NHL spotlight, their shared vision off the ice continues to shine just as brightly.
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