The Edmonton Oilers are looking to win their first Stanley Cup since 1990 after coming up just short last season, and it seems as though the moves they’ve made, including acquiring Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks, have given them confidence that they can make another deep push into the postseason. Recently, a trusted Oilers pundit revealed the team may be looking to bolster their forward depth in the offseason in hopes of making a run in the 2025-26 season as well, and their target could be Sam Bennett.
Allan Mitchell writes:
“If the team bridges Bouchard (as above) and offloads one or two bloated contracts, there might be room to focus on Sam Bennett in free agency. His range of skills and rugged style make him a perfect fit for the Oilers. He will be 29 on June 20, meaning a long-term deal holds risk.”
source – ‘Six bold predictions for the Edmonton Oilers in the next 12 months’ – Allan Mitchell – The Athletic – 03/10/2025
While the Oilers bringing in Bennett was considered a bold prediction by Mitchell, the idea of him joining the Oilers and playing alongside either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl is interesting. At 28 years old, Bennett has scored 23 goals and added 24 assists for 47 points through 69 games which comes out to a 0.68 points-per-game average this season. Throughout his career, he has scored 160 goals and added 172 assists for 332 points through 684 games which comes out to a 0.48 points-per-game average.
On a recent edition of Saturday Headlines, Elliotte Friedman revealed that Bennett and the Panthers have resumed extension discussions and the two sides are working toward a new contract, but nothing is imminent. If Bennett was to hit the open market after a strong showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off and a strong 2024-25 season at both ends of the ice with the Panthers, it’s safe to assume plenty of teams would be interested in signing him.
What Other Teams Could Have Interest in Bennett?
As mentioned, there would be more teams interested in bringing Bennett in if he hits the open market, but the Oilers being willing to spend big should give fans confidence that they could make a splash in free agency. At the same time, teams like the Boston Bruins and Utah Hockey Club that are trying to get into the playoffs next season and have money to spend could overpay Bennett to bring him in, but if he wants to contend, those two teams both sound like long shots.
Related: Jake Walman: Everything to Know About the Oilers’ New Acquisition
It should be expected that the Panthers make Bennett a strong offer to stay with them and considering how strong their team has been combined with the likelihood that they can remain in the Stanley Cup picture for a few more seasons, he will likely strongly consider staying with them. Other contenders like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Colorado Avalanche likely don’t have the cap space available to make him an enticing offer, so they’re likely out of the question.
Realistically, the Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wild make the most sense for Bennett other than the Oilers, and all have the cap space available to make him a strong enough offer. Either way, wherever Bennett ends up, he will add strong depth to a team and provide value at both ends of the ice. He is a strong middle-six offensive producer and has a sound defensive game, and plenty of teams should be gauging his interest if he becomes available to them.
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