Florida Panthers star Sam Bennett
wins Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP
[June 18, 2025]
By STEPHEN WHYNO
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as
playoff MVP on Tuesday night after leading all players in goals
scored to help the Florida Panthers win a second consecutive Stanley
Cup championship.
Bennett scored 15 goals during a postseason run that culminated with
a victory in Game 6 of the final against the Edmonton Oilers. He
finished ahead of teammate Brad Marchand in the voting.
“The amount of guys that stepped up this year and had incredible
years, incredible playoff runs, it truly could have went to anyone,”
Bennett said. “I’m so grateful. It’s such a huge honor, but I truly
mean that: It could’ve went to anyone, and I couldn’t have done it
without my teammates.”
Bennett was a factor throughout the playoffs making big hits,
crowding the crease and knocking opponents off their game. He drew
anger from the Toronto Maple Leafs after he elbowed goaltender
Anthony Stolarz during Game 1 in the second round and he was a
frequent presence in front of Edmonton goalies Stuart Skinner and
Calvin Pickard.
“Everyone looks at the goals and rightfully so, but it’s everything
he does, even away from the puck," teammate Seth Jones said. “His
physical presence out there, his 200-foot game, the way he plays
away from the puck defensively, how he is on face-offs, I think it’s
the complete package we’re lucky to have. It’s been a big part of
our success. He puts a lot of teams, a lot of defensemen on their
heels out there.”
Bennett's game traveled, too. In Game 2 against Edmonton, he scored
his 12th road goal of 2025 to set an NHL record.
Bennett could parlay his massive postseason success into a lucrative
contract as a free agent whether he re-signs with Florida or goes
elsewhere. The 28-year-old said it has “actually been pretty easy”
to set aside his pending free agency and uncertain future.
[to top of second column] |
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett lifts the Stanley Cup after
defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley
Cup Final Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne
Sladky)
“Competing for a Stanley Cup has always been my
goal and my passion, and what I’ve wanted to do,” Bennett said
before Game 6. “That’s just my focus. That’s all I want, and it’s
been quite easy to just not even think about what’s to come. I mean,
yeah, it’s really just a singular focus and that’s how I’ve tried to
handle it.”
Bennett contributed to back-to-back goals in Game 1 by standing in
front of and falling onto Skinner, and he made a big hit on Vasily
Podkolzin and scored seconds later in Florida's Game 3 victory. All
series, he was in the middle of the action.
“Physical player, incredible speed and then the hands to finish,”
coach Paul Maurice said.
In a lot of ways, Bennett embodies Panthers hockey: hard-nosed,
tough, willing to mix it up and also skilled enough to take
advantage of mistakes.
“He does it all — it’s fun to watch,” fourth-liner Jonah Gadjovich
said. “He's throwing huge hits, he’s playing hard defensively,
working pucks in the corners, getting to the net, and obviously
scoring a ton of goals. ... He’s one of the leaders on the team,
someone that we can all get behind.”
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
