How much money will Vancouver Canucks throw at Sam Bennett this summer?
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Sam Bennett has perfected the art of playoff hockey.
Is that enough for the Vancouver Canucks to justify signing him to a lucrative, long-term contract?
It should be.
The Canucks have a desperate need to add both offence and sandpaper to their lineup this offseason, especially at the centre ice position.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that the 29-year-old Bennett will hit the free agent market. But if he does, the Canucks should make him one of their top priorities this summer.
Bennett could fill Miller-sized hole
Much of the Canucks’ success next season will hinge on whether Elias Pettersson can bounce back. But they absolutely still need to find another centre to play in their top six.
Bennett’s regular season numbers aren’t stellar, falling more in line with what you’d expect from a middle-six forward. He set a career high of just 51 points this season, which is just six more than Pettersson notched.
However, the playoffs are where Bennett really shines.
Since the beginning of the 2022-23 season, Bennett has 18 goals and 39 points in 52 playoff games. On a point-per-game basis, he’s ahead of bona fide stars such as Brayden Point, David Pastrnak, and even his own teammate, Sam Reinhart.
This postseason, Bennett has 10 points in 13 playoff games, which includes a team-leading seven goals.
Some of the goals he’s scored show that he has ice in his veins when the postseason rolls around.
ABSOLUTE FILTHY GOAL FROM SAM BENNETT š¤®
CATS HAVE A TWO-GOAL LEAD LATE šØ pic.twitter.com/4Notfn2q8z
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 12, 2025
Bennett might not have the offensive ceiling that J.T. Miller does, but there’s no better replacement for the physical former Canucks centre on the free agent market than Bennett.
Quite frankly, it’s not even close.
Prepare for sticker shock with Bennett
How much can the Canucks afford to pay a player with a career-high of only 51 points?
Bennett’s next contract is projected to be $6.6 million per season on a six-year deal, according to AFP Analytics, but there’s a good chance he’ll get a lot more than that.
July 1 should be silly season again for NHL general managers, given that the salary cap is rising.
The cap is projected to rise to $95.5 million next year. By the summer of 2027, it’s projected to be $113.5 million.
What does that mean for Bennett? A huge payday, potentially.
Not only are quality options lacking on the free agent market, but there just isn’t another player like Bennett available.
If he does hit free agency, the Canucks will likely have to pay a premium.
Did you think signing Brock Boeser for $8 million+ per year was too much? Are you comfortable with the Canucks giving that money, or more, to Bennett?
Because, in all likelihood, Bennett will command more money than Boeser. Heck, he might even be the NHL’s second-highest-paid free agent behind Mitch Marner.
If the Canucks were to actually be a top contender for Bennett’s services, they’d almost certainly have to overpay based on the fact that they aren’t a Stanley Cup contender, and they also have tax rates well above what Bennett is currently experiencing in Florida.
But, for a guy like Bennett who has already won, perhaps it’s time to chase the bag in free agency.
Former Canucks centre Elias Lindholm left Vancouver and signed a contract paying him $7.75 million per season with the Boston Bruins. He signed that coming off a regular season where he had just 44 points. Consider $7.75 million to be a floor for Bennett if he reaches July 1.
Could Bennett be in Pierre Luc-Dubois territory? The former third overall pick in 2016 signed an $8.5 million per year deal with the Los Angeles Kings back in 2023. Bennett has never hit the same regular-season career highs as Dubois, but he’s enjoyed more playoff success.
Dubois was also signed as a restricted free agent, whereas Bennett could have more than half of the teams in the NHL bidding for his services.
When Dubois signed his contract, his cap hit took up about 10 per cent of the Kings’ total cap space. If Bennett were to sign a similar deal, his next contract would be north of $9.5 million annually. It’s not insane to suggest that his cap hit could hit $10 million.
That’s a steep number, but it’s worth remembering that the salary cap is increasing to $113.5 million in just two years.
The Canucks also need to prove to Quinn Hughes that they can win now. Acquiring a player like Bennett, who’s a proven winner, would go a long ways towards making the Canucks better on offence and more battle-tested heading into next season.