Sam Bennett capped off a remarkable season by being awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for his outstanding performance in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The forward was named playoff MVP on Tuesday night after the Florida Panthers secured their second consecutive Stanley Cup title, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the Final.
Bennett, age 28, was a pivotal player throughout the Panthers` successful playoff run. He led all skaters in the postseason with 15 goals and accumulated a total of 22 points.
After receiving the prestigious trophy, Bennett commented on the honor, stating it was immense. He highlighted the team`s incredible depth, suggesting the award could have gone to any of his teammates who also had exceptional playoff performances.
He also expressed his deep gratitude, emphasizing that he couldn`t have achieved this without the support of his teammates and how much their reactions meant to him.
Hailing from East Gwillimbury, Ontario, Bennett is poised to be a prominent unrestricted free agent this off-season as his four-year, $17.7-million contract expires. His strong playoff showing followed a regular season where he achieved a career high of 51 points, including 25 goals and 26 assists, over 76 games.
Tristan Blackwood