Florida Panthers and Sam Bennett Reportedly Tens of Millions Apart in Contract Negotiations

Sam Bennett is one of the most intriguing players in the NHL. In the regular season, he is a consistent second-line player, posting a career high of 51 points this past season. However, when it comes to the playoffs, Bennett's game reaches a new level and becomes one of the greatest players in the sport during the spring.

This postseason, Bennett leads the playoffs in goals with 12, three more than second-place Leon Draisaitl. Clearly, Bennett's game is tailored for the playoff,s and he is quite effective at playing a power forward game.

Frank Seravalli recently said that the most the Florida Panthers should be looking to give Bennett is a contract in the $50 million range, a 7x7.5M contract. A number that fits a second-liner with a career high of 51 points.

Despite the number that Seravalli threw out there for Bennett, insider Pierre LeBrun believes there are teams looking to give Bennett a contract in the $10 million range.

This means if the Panthers are offering Bennett a contract in the $50 million range and Bennett believes he can get a contract worth north of $70 million on the open market, it appears that the two sides will not reach an agreement.

While the contract negotiations are at the forefront of the speculation surrounding Bennett, with thousands of fans wondering if he will join their favorite team, Bennett's sole focus right now is on the Stanley Cup Finals.

Currently down 1-0 in the series against the Edmonton Oilers, Bennett will look to find yet another level and help drag the Panthers back into this series and hopefully win a second consecutive Stanley Cup.