The Toronto Maple Leafs seem to be out of the race to sign one of the top free agents this offseason.
Toronto is expected to lose Mitch Marner without compensation and had been rumored to have interest in Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett, who just won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after helping lead the Panthers to a second straight Stanley Cup title.
However, NHL insider Andy Strickland reported that Bennett has no interest in joining the Maple Leafs.
“Hearing Toronto will not be on Sam Bennett’s list of free agent destinations, if unable to come to terms with Florida and he becomes a UFA,” Strickland posted on X.
Bennett, a Toronto native, just completed a four-year, $17.7 million contract and is expected to land a new deal worth more than $8 million annually. Despite his local ties, a return home to play in Toronto appears unlikely.
This past season, Bennett tallied 25 goals and 26 assists for 51 points in 76 regular season games. He added 15 goals and 7 assists for 22 points in 23 playoff appearances.
Tension Between Bennett and Leafs GM
A major factor behind Bennett’s disinterest in Toronto could be his history with Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving. When Treliving was GM of the Calgary Flames, he traded Bennett to Florida after the former first-round pick grew unhappy with his role.
After the trade, Bennett expressed frustration with how his career had unfolded in Calgary but said he was eager for a fresh start in Florida.
“Obviously my career hasn’t gone the way I expected, and I think I have a lot more to prove,” Bennett said at the time. “I’m thankful for the opportunity, and I loved my time in Calgary, but now I’ve got a new opportunity, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Treliving also acknowledged the situation could’ve been handled better, saying:
“If you could do things over in life… I’ve probably got a few redo’s. It could’ve been handled a little differently. I don’t put that on Sam. He worked hard, but a fresh start was probably best.”
Given that rocky history, it’s likely Bennett prefers not to reunite with Treliving, which may explain his reluctance to sign with Toronto.
Conn Smythe Honors for Bennett
Bennett played a key role in Florida’s Stanley Cup run, ultimately earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason MVP. He was humble about the recognition, crediting his teammates for the team’s success.
“My whole focus was on winning the Stanley Cup,” Bennett said. “It’s an incredible honor to be named MVP, but really, there are 25 MVPs on this team. It could’ve gone to anyone.”
Bennett finished seventh in playoff scoring and was a standout performer throughout the postseason.
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