Sam Bennett has been named the recipient of the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bennett was a pivotal player for the Panthers throughout their playoff run, finishing with a league-high 15 goals.
This marks the first time a Florida Panthers player has received the Conn Smythe Trophy, even though the team previously won the Cup in 2024. Interestingly, last year the award went to Connor McDavid, making him just the sixth player from the losing team to earn the honor.
As the Panthers clinched their second consecutive Stanley Cup title, several players were strong contenders for the Conn Smythe, but Bennett`s performance distinguished him from the field. He demonstrated a remarkable ability to elevate his play during the postseason.
The 2024-25 season marked Bennett`s first time exceeding 50 points in the regular season, and he had never previously scored more than 28 goals in a single campaign. Yet, in just 23 playoff games this year, he scored more than half of that career-high goal total.
Bennett was impactful in every playoff series, scoring at least three goals in each round and proving a menace to opposing teams on their home ice. Notably, thirteen of his 15 goals were scored on the road, setting a new NHL playoff record.
He was particularly challenging for the Oilers to handle in the Stanley Cup Final, contributing five goals and one assist.
This offensive consistency, coupled with Bennett`s strong defensive play, positioned him as a crucial component in Florida`s successful championship defense. Despite facing difficult matchups nightly, his performance at five-on-five was exceptional; the Panthers outscored opponents 17-11 and held a 59.5% expected goals share when he was on the ice in those situations.
Perhaps the most striking illustration of Bennett`s impact was his memorable shift in Game 3 of the Final, where he initiated the play with a powerful hit defensively and concluded it with a skillful deke leading to a goal offensively.
Bennett is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and his recent achievements have significantly enhanced his market value. A player with two Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy is highly sought after. The Panthers organization has a few weeks to negotiate a new contract with Bennett before he becomes available to other teams.
