Sam Bennett's Likely Next Team and Expected Contract Revealed by Elliotte Friedman

Mitch Marner and Sam Bennett top the 2025 NHL free agent class at Nos. 1 and 2 in TSN's Free Agent Frenzy rankings, with all of the signing drama set to unfold on July 1st.

Both are creations of the OHL and the Greater Toronto Area, were selected fourth overall in the NHL Draft, and played key roles in Canada's victory in the first 4 Nations Face-Off.

But while Marner seems destined for free agency, the fate of Bennett is anything but certain. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Florida Panthers would like to re-sign Bennett, and he'd like to stay.

The negotiations reportedly are working on agreeing to an identical deal as that of Carter Verhaeghe, which was for eight years and $7 million annually.

Bennett has increased his value with three consecutive gritty playoff series, helping Florida maintain its Stanley Cup title. He ranks tied for the playoff high with nine goals this spring, justifying the "no guts, no glory" mantra that defines playoff heroics.

His estimated market value is between $6.6 and $8 million a year, but a second Stanley Cup could propel it upward.

At the 4 Nations Face-Off, Bennett battled the Tkachuk brothers in a contentious Canada-USA round-robin match, then scored in the championship rematch, setting the stage for Marner and Connor McDavid's overtime magic.