Florida Panthers Keep Sam Bennett, Islanders Trade Noah Dobson

The hours leading up to the NHL Draft were busy ones on Friday with the New York Islanders making a big trade — and the Florida Panthers keeping a big piece to their team by signing Sam Bennett.

Before the Bennett news broke, the big deal of the day was the Islanders losing young defenseman Noah Dobson in a trade to the Montreal Canadiens.

The Islanders obviously did not want to lose Dobson, but thems the way things go sometimes.

The Montreal Canadiens were the big winners in the deal, sending their two first-round picks to the Islanders as well as Emil Heineman — whom the Panthers originally traded to Calgary in 2021 as part of the Bennett deal.

Small world, eh?

Bennett ends up signing his second, and probably last, contract with the Panthers since being acquired at the 2021 deadline and this one is a whopper: Eight years, $64 million.

More on this one later today.

As for the Islanders, they tried to move up by using those Montreal draft picks but ended up sticking; they did take Matthew Schaefer with the top pick.

FLORIDA PANTHERS / FHN

• Bennett wants to be part of a Florida Panthers dynasty.
• With Bennett locked down, where the Panthers stand when it comes to Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand.
• Bill Zito did not win the NHL GM of the Year Award again. What’s a guy gots to do?
• Where the Panthers goalie situation stands right now.
• The NHL Draft started Friday. Where did all of Florida’s picks go?
• Adam Boqvist was back on the ice in Sunrise last week — and it was to celebrate Jesper’s Stanley Cup victory.
• Don’t forget to subscribe to the FHN YouTube channel to watch interviews with the Florida Panthers throughout the offseason. Plenty up now, more coming as we slog through the summer.

NHL LINKS / NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW

• After failing to move up in the draft, the New York Islanders stand pat on Friday night.
• What a job the Montreal Canadiens did in pulling Dobson off the Island. The Blue Jackets were in on this as well.
• Looking at potential Montreal trades including one Mike Matheson, who is in the final season of the eight-year deal he signed here.
• The Colorado Avalanche unloaded some salary in trade with Columbus.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins shook up the draft with an early trade.
• The Boston Bruins got a steal of a pick with No. 7.
• Brandon Saad is back with the Vegas Golden Knights.

2025 NHL DRAFT

• Where: Peacock Theater, Los Angeles
• When: Today (second-seventh rounds), noon
• TV/Streaming: NHLNet/ESPN+
• Florida Panthers Selections — Round 1: None (to Calgary); Round 2: None (to Toronto); Round 3: None (to Ottawa); Round 4: No. 112 (from Calgary), No. 128; Round 5: No. 129 (from San Jose); Round 6: No. 192; Round 7: No. 224.

2025 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS

FLORIDA PANTHERS

UP NEXT

• 2025 NHL Draft: Friday-Saturday, Los Angeles (Panthers have five picks in Rounds 4-7)
• Start of NHL Free Agency: Tuesday, noon
• Panthers Development Camp, Fort Lauderdale IcePlex: Early July
• Panthers Rookie Camp, Fort Lauderdale IcePlex: Early September
• Prospect Showcase hosted by Tampa Bay Lightning: Early September
• Training Camp: Mid-September
• Exhibition Games: Starts Sept. 21 @ Nashville (doubleheader)
• Opening Night: Oct 7-9 (opponent, time, date TBA)