TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ON VERGE OF $10M SAM BENNETT COUP AS STAR FORWARD AGREES TO MOVE FROM FLORIDA PANTHERS
In a stunning twist just weeks after the Stanley Cup Final, Sam Bennett is set to leave the Florida Panthers and join the Toronto Maple Leafs in a deal reportedly worth $10 million per year, sources close to the negotiation have revealed.
The 28-year-old power forward, who played a pivotal role in Florida’s deep playoff run this season, has agreed to join the Maple Leafs, marking one of the summer’s biggest free agency coups. The deal, expected to be finalized shortly after the UFA window opens on July 1, will span seven years and solidify Bennett as a cornerstone in Toronto’s long-term plans.
According to insiders, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving made Bennett a top priority this offseason, viewing the gritty center as the missing piece to complement Toronto’s star-studded top six. Talks accelerated over the past week, with multiple high-level meetings taking place between Bennett’s camp and the Leafs’ front office. The result: a blockbuster agreement that caught even league insiders by surprise.
“This is a massive statement from Toronto,” said a league source familiar with the negotiations. “They outbid Florida and several other teams with a front-loaded, tax-optimized offer that convinced Bennett to come home.”
Bennett, a native of Holland Landing, Ontario, grew up just north of Toronto and was reportedly intrigued by the opportunity to play in front of family and friends. While Florida made a late push to retain him—offering a reported $7.5 million per year over five years—the Panthers were ultimately limited by cap space and multiple pending UFAs, including defenseman Aaron Ekblad and winger Brad Marchand.
Bennett’s decision comes after a standout postseason, during which he tallied 9 goals and 12 assists across 20 games and was widely considered a Conn Smythe Trophy dark horse. His blend of physicality, scoring touch, and relentless forechecking made him a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses and a beloved figure in South Florida.
In Toronto, Bennett is expected to slot in as the second-line center, potentially flanked by William Nylander and Matthew Knies. His arrival may also provide flexibility to shift John Tavares to the wing, giving head coach Craig Berube options to revamp the team’s core structure heading into the 2025–26 season.
The Maple Leafs, who exited in the second round of the playoffs this year, have been under pressure to reshape their roster around stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Adding Bennett, who brings proven playoff pedigree and a two-way motor, signals a shift toward a more balanced, postseason-hardened lineup.
As Bennett prepares to return to his home province in what is expected to be a headline-making press conference in Toronto next week, Florida fans are left to reflect on the departure of one of the team’s emotional leaders. For the Maple Leafs, however, this move may represent the clearest sign yet that the Stanley Cup window is wide open—and that Toronto is going all-in.