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Sam Reinhart’s four goals led the way to Florida Panthers, who won the Stanley Cup again over Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, but it was another Sam that took the Conn Smythe trophy home.
Sam Bennett was named the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup playoffs when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced his name after the 5-1 game 6 win over Oilers to seal another league title.
Although he did not have a point in Game 6, Bennett was the leading goal scorer for any player in the playoffs this year and found the back of the net 15 times while adding seven assists to a total of 22 points.
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Florida Panthers Center Sam Bennett (9) is celebrating after making an assist on a goal against Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period in match three of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup endgame in the American Bank Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Preferred Pictures)
Bennett joined some Elite Stanley Cup Playoffs Company, as the only other players who had at least 15 goals in the post season before him were Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic and Sidney Crosby – all hockey legends.
Panthers beat Oilers in Game 5 in the Stanley Cup final to reach the title of title
To start the Stanley Cup final, a fight with Oilers after defeating them in seven games last season, Bennett found the back of the net twice despite the loss of overtime.
He followed up with a goal in Game 2’s win as well as the Game 3 win to help Florida take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Bennett’s last goal of the season came in Game 5’s win on Saturday night in Edmonton.
Florida Panthers Center Sam Bennett (9) controls the puck in the first period against Carolina Hurricanes in Game Four of the eastern conference final in the 2025 Stanley Cup playing game in the American Bank Arena. (SAM NAVARRO-MAILED PICTURES)
Panthers, a team filled with talent from top to bottom, added players like Brad Marchand and Seth Jones at the NHL trade deadline to consolidate their list. Both of these players made huge contributions throughout the playoffs to help Florida reach their goals once again.
But the main core, which includes Bennett, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and more, led the road both in the dressing room and as an example.
Florida Panthers Center Sam Bennett (9) skates during the warm -up period against Edmonton Oilers in Game Five of the 2025 Stanley Cup final at Rogers Place. (Sergei Belski-Pre-Preferred Pictures)
Bennett finished the regular season with 51 points (25 goals, 26 assists) over 76 games, but he turned it up a notch when his team needed it most in the playoffs.
