Panthers' Sam Bennett betting odds for next team officially come out with sizeable front runner ahead of the pack

After another bruising and productive postseason, Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett is gaining attention not just for his on-ice heroics but also for his uncertain future.

The 28-year-old has been a difference-maker in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the league with 10 goals in 17 games to go with 6 assists, 58 shots, and a whopping 91 hits. He’s been instrumental during Florida’s Finals run, including a highlight-reel breakaway goal in Game 3 after delivering a thunderous hit to ignite the play.

This follows his 2024 playoff campaign where he produced 7 goals and 7 assists in 19 games during Florida's Cup win.

Over the past two postseasons, Bennett has racked up 17 goals and 13 assists in 36 games while playing a physical, agitating, and clutch brand of hockey. As a pending unrestricted free agent, teams across the league are watching closely—and sportsbooks are already lining up next-team odds for the rugged forward.

Betting Odds: Sam Bennett’s Next Team per FanDuel Sportsbook

• Florida Panthers –230
• Toronto Maple Leafs +500
• Vegas Golden Knights +900
• Boston Bruins +2200
• Los Angeles Kings +2600
• Ottawa Senators +2600
• Colorado Avalanche +3400
• New York Rangers +3400
• Vancouver Canucks +3400
• New Jersey Devils +3400
• Detroit Red Wings +3700
• St. Louis Blues +3700
• Buffalo Sabres +4500
• Anaheim Ducks +4500

More NHL: Florida Fade: Why Bettors Should Rethink Backing McDavid on the Road in Cup Final

Florida Panthers (–230)

The Panthers are the clear betting favorite to retain Bennett and for good reason. He's a perfect fit for Florida’s system with a fast and physical playstyle that works well in Paul Maurice's system and has proven to be successful in the playoffs. He’s already racked up a league-best 14 goals this postseason, including five goals over his last four games. 

Florida has created a winning culture in a location that's very hard to beat with nice weather all year round and no-state tax that has allowed Bennett to keep more of his money. He's been vital to the success of the Panthers for the last three seasons and will likely be one of the main priorities for management this off-season. 

Toronto Maple Leafs (+500)

A homecoming to Toronto is definitely a possibility as the Buds are desperately looking for playoff competitors with Bennett being one of the best in the league. Bennett’s grit and playoff prowess could be a massive addition to a Leafs team that has always struggled to close out series due to their stars failing to play at their best when it counts. 

The Leafs could also benefit from his versatility as he's able to play center or wing. If Bennett is interested, Toronto will do everything they can to get him as they'll have extra cap space following the likely departure of Mitch Marner.

Vegas Golden Knights (+900)

The Golden Knights have built their identity on being aggressive with acquiring playoff-tested forwards like Bennett. If Vegas doesn’t retain all of its current free agents, there could be a roster and cap-space opening for a player with his unique blend of scoring touch and sandpaper that Vegas is known for as well as Florida. His game would mesh well with Bruce Cassidy’s system, particularly in heavy matchups.

Boston Bruins (+2200)

Boston has been on the hunt for a gritty forward who thrives in the playoffs and after last season's 33-39-10 record, they'll be looking to make some serious changes to get themselves back into playoff contention. 

Bennett fits that bill of a Boston Bruin and could play the Charlie Coyle-style hybrid role up and down the lineup with his ability to play multiple positions. Cap gymnastics may be needed but the Bruins have a winning culture that is always enticing to free agents. 

Los Angeles Kings (+2600)

The Kings are an intriguing dark horse. They have young, impactful centers but may look to add more physical edge and depth scoring. Edmonton disposed of LA for the fourth year in a row this postseason and could influence the Kings to try and make a serious move like bringing in Bennett. 

If the Kings are looking to retool, his veteran presence could make sense—especially as a tone-setter on the road.

Ottawa Senators (+2600)

If Ottawa aims to accelerate its rebuild into playoff contention, a forward like Bennett makes sense. He brings experience and edge, and his Ontario roots might play well with fans and local interest. Still, the Sens would likely need to overpay to outbid a win-now contender.

Colorado Avalanche (+3400)

Colorado is a bit of a longshot considering their cap, but Bennett’s game has traits the Avs might appreciate, particularly his toughness, versatility, and postseason success. 

He could slot in as a utility forward with significantly less pressure as he goes undercover behind their top stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Gabriel Landeskog. Bennett would propel the Avalanche to potentially the best forward group in the NHL but it all depends on financial flexibility.

New York Rangers (+3400)

The Rangers have often lacked grit in the playoffs, and Bennett could help fix that. This season was a turbulent one in New York and they may be looking for a serious shakeup to the roster after closing in on a deal to send longtime Ranger Chris Kreider to the Ducks. Bennett's ability to draw penalties, create chaos, and contribute timely goals could complement New York’s elite skill players they already have in Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin. 

Vancouver Canucks (+3400)

Vancouver’s deep run last season showed they’re on the cusp. But after a dramatic season with locker room problems and losing a key player in J.T. Miller, they could be looking to add another big ticket winger that could help the Canucks back into the playoff picture. 

Adding a playoff-tested player like Bennett would bring edge and scoring, especially on a team needing consistency from their forward group. The Canucks’ cap situation is tight, but if they create space, Bennett could thrive there.

More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges

New Jersey Devils (+3400)

New Jersey is building a dynamic core but could use some grit and playoff experience up front. Bennett could be an anchor on a line with younger talent, helping push the team further in the playoffs. 

Detroit Red Wings (+3700)

Detroit’s slow but steady progress makes them a sleeper pick for Bennett. The Red Wings lack playoff seasoning as their roster is still very young and bringing in a player of Bennett's caliber could help them into the playoffs after just barely missing out the last two seasons. 

Bennett could be a stabilizing two-way player in their top six, mentoring younger forwards with his playoff experience. Still, Detroit would be required to go all-in for a player like Bennett and they may not have enough cap space to make the move. 

St. Louis Blues (+3700)

The Blues had he identity of a gritty, phyical team when they won the Stanley Cup back in 2019 and still today, they work well with forwards like Bennett. His gritty style fits their mold, and he’d be a solid piece in a team on the rise as the Blues are almost complete with their retooling phase. St. Louis may have some big upcoming contracts like keeping Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas for the rest of their careers which may limit the feasibility with the cap. 

More NHL: New Jonathan Toews Next Team Betting Odds Revealed With Unexpected Frontrunner

Buffalo Sabres (+4500)

Buffalo is improving, but remains far from playoff contention. GM Kevyn Adams has been vocal about how aggressive the Sabres will be this off-season as their players are begging for a chance to play in meaningful games. Bennett would be a major asset for Buffalo as a locker-room leader, playoff performer and a cornerstone piece for a hopeful contender in the future. The Sabres have cap space, but it’s unlikely Bennett would choose a non-contender unless he's paid handsomely.

Anaheim Ducks (+4500)

Anaheim’s odds are long for a reason. While Bennett would provide leadership and energy, the Ducks are rebuilding and likely won’t be a competitive team in the near term. Like the Sabres, GM Pat Verbeek spoke out about wanting to be agressive this off-season and made the bold proclamation that he wants Anaheim back in the playoffs next season. 

Bennett would be a key player in getting the Ducks back in contention and excel when getting there. He’d also be a solid mentor for a young roster, but it’s a fit better suited for a veteran on a long-term deal—something Bennett may not seek.

More NHL: Ducks Nearing Big Splash, Landing Rangers' Chris Krieder in Potential Trade for Top Prospect

Playoff fact: You almost always win Stanley Cups on the strength of the play of your star players.

Also playoff fact: You also win Stanley Cups when your depth players are difference-makers as well.

The Florida Panthers choked off the head of the snake so well in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final that the Edmonton Oilers' duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was limited to two shot attempts. That might be difficult for the Panthers to repeat, but with home-ice advantage and the last change, they'll have the opportunity to get the players they want out on the ice against the Oilers' stars.

Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart aren't exactly lighting the world on fire themselves, but the likes Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell and Nate Schmidt have been lights-out.

It's time for the likes of Evander Kane, Connor Brown, Viktor Arvidsson and John Klingberg to do the same.

Watch today's video column for more, and share your thoughts.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The volume was turned up inside Amerant Bank Arena for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

A total of 19,863 fans packed inside the Sunrise hockey barn to see their Florida Panthers battle the Edmonton Oilers in what was a tied series entering the contest.

It didn't take long for Florida to get their fans going, as Brad Marchand scored a goal 56 seconds into the game that had the building rocking.

That turned out to only be the beginning.

Hard Rock Bet had someone inside the building with a sound meter, checking to see how loud the crowd would get at different points of the game.

For the most part, the loudest moments saw the decibel levels somewhere between 100 and 110

At different points, the meter was running while Panthers fans were chanting Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner's name, while Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo was banging the pregame drum and during an intermission performance from worldwide entertainment star D.J. Khaled.

But the loudest the building got all night, according to the meter, was after Sam Bennett scored a breakaway goal during the second period.

According to the sound meter, the decibel level reached a whopping 130.9 dB.

PANTHERS FANS HAD ONE OF THE LOUDEST CROWD ROARS EVER! pic.twitter.com/PTjNBOvcrh

— Hard Rock Bet (@HardRockBet) June 11, 2025

The goal put the Panthers up 4-1 at the time. They would go on to win 6-1 and take a two games to one lead in the best-of-seven series.

Perhaps it was the buildup to the goal that helped the crowd get so loud.

Bennett had almost half the ice to skate down before scoring the goal, and in those couple of seconds, you could both hear and feel the crowd building to a potential crescendo.

It was an incredibly cool moment to be part of in a night that was full of them.

NHL (@NHL) on XMAKE A HIT ✅ POT A BEAUTY ✅ Sam Bennett is an absolute force to be reckoned with. #StanleyCup 🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T 🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF

Florida beat down the Oilers in Game 3, and Edmonton's players seemed perfectly happy to engage and instigate much of the physical hostilities that came during the latter stages of the night.

How much of that bleeds over into Game 4 remains to be seen.

Regardless, it should be another loud night at the Cats' home barn.

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Photo caption: Jun 9, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) scores against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the second period in game three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

The NHL Scouting Combine is over, yet there is still no consensus on how the top 10 of the 2025 NHL Draft should go. However, based on what has been reported, it is fair to assume that certain teams may be headed down a specific path. 

Are the New York Islanders going to trade down from one? Will the Chicago Blackhawks move their pick up or down? What are the San Jose Sharks doing? All of these questions will be answered on June 27th, 2025. 

The Blackhawks are almost certainly drafting a forward. The only defenseman going in the top six is Matthew Schaefer, who likely won’t even be there when Chicago comes up to pick. The assumption is that Michael Misa will also be unavailable at that time. 

That leaves four forwards for Chicago to realistically consider unless something unexpected happens in the top two. Most could play center, but some may be better wingers in the long term. The Blackhawks need both. 

This is how they stack up against each other after the combine: 

1. James Hagens

At the start of the 2024-25 season, it felt like James Hagens was a lock to be the number one overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Now, unless someone stuns, he likely won’t go higher than third and could even slip to the lower half of the bottom ten.

Hagens dominated with the USNTDP before this year. At Boston College, he had a good year, but more was expected from him. He wasn't Macklin Celebrini who won the Hobey Baker as a freshman a year prior, so he started to slip.

The problem is that college hockey is becoming a harder league than the CHL. If Hagens wanted to have 150 points playing there, he could have. That also would have likely locked him into being the first overall pick. Instead, he took Will Smith’s spot at BC and played well between Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault on the top line. 

Hagens was also a top player on Team USA’s World Juniors team that went on to win the Gold Medal. No matter what, he's been noticeable. 

This is a smaller player, which doesn’t help his case to be selected higher. However, there are plenty of young, smaller offensive stars in the league like Jack Hughes, Cole Caufield, and Logan Cooley. Although the Blackhawks already have some smaller forwards like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, passing on Hagens may fill them (and a lot of other teams) with regret one day. 

2. Porter Martone

If Kyle Davidson sees a lot of these guys having the same ceiling, then the tie breaker could work in Porter Martone’s favor if the way he plays is something Chicago’s brass likes. 

Martone is a big, physical power forward who will create time and space for himself and others in the NHL. Specifically, it is easy to picture Martone on a line with Connor Bedard, a smaller center. 

Connor Bedard needs to shoot the puck more, and a player like Martone will help give him more room to do that. He can also score himself, which also makes him a good match for Bedard, who is an underrated playmaker. 

Matthew Tkachuk is a comparison at the highest level for Martone. If he became that type of bruiser who could also have 80+ points consistently, that would be just what the Hawks need. 

If Davidson is confident in his stance that Bedard and Nazar are true centers, Martone could be a home run draft pick. 

3. Caleb Desnoyers

Caleb Desnoyers is the truest center in the 2025 NHL Draft. Think of guys like Sasha Barkov, Nico Hischier, or Anthony Cirelli. To predict that he will be as good as those guys is unfair, but he plays the same two-way style of game as they do. 

Chicago is lacking centers like that in the organization. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar will make their money in the offensive zone, so having a guy like Desnoyers around would go a long way, assuming he reaches his potential in the NHL. 

His offensive ceiling might not be as high as a guy like Hagens or Martone, but his play in all three zones makes him worth considering with this draft pick. 

4. Anton Frondell

Anton Frondell is similar to Caleb Desnoyers. He plays a strong two-way game that may allow him to become a good second-line center in the NHL. You know that you’re going to get an honest effort from him on every shift.

Frondell has a notable one-time shot and can shoot the puck with a little extra juice. Being Swedish gets him compared to other European stars from around the NHL, largely due to his production overseas this last season. 

Like every other player in this class, there is a bit of risk associated with taking Frondell. However, he has the skills (and proven production in big-time leagues) to become a star in the National Hockey League. At minimum, he should be able to carve out a role on a good team. 

These guys could go in any order, and one of them could even be selected in the top two. Anything is possible, but this is the way they should be ranked going in based on what we know following the scouting combine. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Yesterday, former San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner landed a new job in the NHL as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders, joining Ray Bennett, who was also hired by the team. Boughner will work under Islanders head coach Patrick Roy as they look to turn the franchise around.

During his time with the Sharks, Boughner posted a record of 67-85-23. He was originally named interim coach after Pete DeBoer was fired and went on to spend three seasons as head coach from 2020 to 2022 before being let go.

He previously served as an assistant coach with the Sharks from 2015 to 2017, before leaving to become the head coach of the Florida Panthers. After being fired from that role, he returned to San Jose.

For the past three seasons, Boughner was the associate coach with the Detroit Red Wings, working under both Derek LaLonde and Todd McLellan.

He’ll have his work cut out for him with the Islanders. After a disappointing season that ended early, the team landed the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and now has a chance to reshape its future. Boughner will be a key part of that process on Roy’s coaching staff as they look to get the Islanders back into the playoffs.

Sharks Should Avoid Buying Out Marc-Édouard Vlasic This SummerThe San Jose Sharks have a lot of questions that need answering this summer. Will they try and move up in the draft? What’s the plan for their players on expiring contracts? Will they look to land a big fish in free agency? There are plenty of unknowns—but one question that shouldn’t even come up is whether the Sharks should buy out Marc-Édouard Vlasic. Macklin Celebrini Finishes Third In Calder Voting, Lane Hutson Wins AwardSan Jose Sharks' forward Macklin Celebrini was a finalist for the Calder Trophy this past season, and while he had a strong campaign and made a push to win the honour of being named rookie of the year, he finished third place in voting behind Calgary Flames' Dustin Wolf, and Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson. Sharks Could Be Eyeing Michael Misa With Second Overall PickNow that the 2025 NHL Draft Combine is officially in the books, this is the time of year when rumors start to filter through—and one of the latest involves the San Jose Sharks. Former Sharks Coach Relieved Of His Duties By The Dallas StarsFormer San Jose Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer was relieved of his duties on Friday, as the Dallas Stars officially announced his firing. The move comes just days after the Stars were eliminated from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. How One Free Agent Miss In 2018 Led To A Blockbuster Trade For The SharksWith NHL Free Agency less than a month away and one of the headliners being John Tavares, it's a good time to look back seven years to when the San Jose Sharks came close to landing the biggest fish of the 2018 free agent class.