Sam Bennett reflects on struggling in Calgary but finding early success with the Florida Panthers
Sam Bennett
This is the third consecutive time that the Florida Panthers have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. Over the past three years, Sam Bennett has played a significant role in helping the team advance to the finals and win the Stanley Cup last year.
However, Bennett's performance has improved significantly since he left Calgary. We are taking a look at how his game improved under the guidance of Panthers coach Paul Maurice.
How Sam Bennett evolved into a better player with the Florida Panthers
— pantrsgrace (@pantrsgrace)
The
Florida Panthers
acquired Sam Bennett from Calgary back in April 2021. Ever since the move was made, his game has improved drastically. A major change was Panther coach, Paul Maurice, moving him to centre ice, an important position which Maurice believed was an important move to boost his confidence.
Sharing his views on his contribution to the Panthers,
Sam Bennett
said, "I definitely struggled in Calgary for a while. Once I got here (to Florida), just how the team embraced me, the opportunity the team gave me right from the beginning was totally different than what I was getting in Calgary. I took that opportunity and found some success early."
He also added, "Our team definitely changed quite a bit from when I first got here, but I still had that confidence.
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Our style changed, but I think it even fit my style of game even more, so that gave me even more confidence to go out and play."
Also Read:
Sam Bennett's rising value: Becoming the Florida Panthers' top UFA target
Commenting on the same,
Matthew Tkachuk
, Florida forward who previously played with Bennett in Calgary, shared, "He's always had the talent. He's always had the work ethic. He's always had the bite, the jam, everything." He also added, "I think a lot of it has to do with opportunity. I mean, he didn't get the opportunity in Calgary that he has here with the minutes and how he's utilized and everything. I don't know why that is, maybe it's a personnel thing, but he's just taken off as a whole new player here in Florida for everybody to see, even though in Calgary I saw it all along and us as players saw it all along.
I was not happy when he got traded from Calgary, but I was also so happy to see him come here and have a chance and really flourish."
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