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NOTHING BUT RESPECT
Known for some hard hits during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Sam Bennett brought that energy to the championship series against the Edmonton Oilers. He had three points in the first three contests to help the Panthers to a 3-0 series lead. For Bennett, the battle against Oilers captain Connor McDavid was nothing new. The two were friends and minor league teammates for the York-Simcoe Express and Toronto Marlies as youngsters. Bennett had kind words for McDavid in the handshake line following Florida’s Game 7 win. “I just said I love him and I respect him,” Bennett said. “He’s an unbelievable player, he clearly dragged that team all the way back. We’re still rivals on the ice but we’re always going to be friends.”
Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images