Photo credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Sam Bennett has turned December into a personal highlight reel, and suddenly being one of «Benny's Buddies» feels like the best fandom in town.
The Florida Panthers posted a clip Thursday celebrating Bennett's latest surge, a well-earned nod to a stretch in which he has dragged the team forward with goals, pace, and that signature edge around the blue paint. His confidence is spiking at exactly the moment Florida needed someone to steady the season.
Bennett has stacked multi-point outings across the past week, including two goals and an assist in Utah, pushing his month-long total to eight points. His timing matters. With Aleksander Barkov still recovering and Matthew Tkachuk working back toward full speed, Bennett has become the heartbeat of the forward group, driving lines with speed and inside pressure.
Carter Verhaeghe remains locked in beside him, but Bennett's blend of chaos and precision is what keeps opening pockets of ice. His shooting percentage has risen sharply, his zone entries look cleaner, and his ability to turn a harmless rush into a dangerous shift feels more like the Bennett we saw during Florida's Cup runs.
Here is the Panthers' post that set fans buzzing:
Sam Bennett gives Florida Panthers the edge they were missing
This version of Bennett is the one you ride into tough buildings with. He sets tone, agitates, finishes checks, and still finds soft spots in coverage.
Florida needed a spark after a shaky start, and Bennett delivered it. The Panthers have now won three straight and earned points in four consecutive games, a vital step before facing the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. When Bennett is driving play like this, Florida feels faster, more connected, and more comfortable dictating tempo.
His resurgence also lightens pressure on depth players and stabilizes matchups for Anton Lundell, who scored the winner Wednesday. Sergei Bobrovsky's workload has steadied as the Panthers spend more time on the attack. It is a ripple effect, all sparked by Bennett looking like the disruptive, fearless center opponents hate dealing with.
There is still work ahead, especially with Colorado and Dallas looming, but if Bennett keeps this pace, the Panthers' December narrative could flip before Christmas. For now, «Benny's Buddies» have every reason to enjoy the ride.