Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett roasted online for ‘apology' following Stanley Cup antics
Sam Bennett (via Getty Images)
Florida Panthers winger Sam Bennett ignited widespread outrage on Reddit after he apologized for previous dirty hits—offered as part of the team's Stanley Cup celebration—and went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Quoting a speech pilfered from Conor McGregor, Bennett's divisive comments unleashed a torrent of criticism from hockey fans, reigniting controversies surrounding sportsmanship, violence in hockey, and how far is too far when celebrating a championship.
Sam Bennett's speech in quoting Conor McGregor inspires mockery from fans as controversy breaks out regarding his 'dirty hits'
Sam Bennett's on-ice reputation has been a long source of debate — as a gritty, physical winger, he's also been often criticized for straying from the right side of that line into endangering and dirty play.
But after assisting the Florida Panthers in winning their first Stanley Cup, his moment on the mic didn't see him find redemption—it fanned controversy anew.
In the victory parade speech, Bennett gave a speech that was widely seen as tone-deaf, an echo of an old Conor McGregor saying: "I just want to apologize. to absolutely nobody." It was meant to be sarcastic or defiant, but for many fans, it came off as tasteless — especially given some of the recent hits for which he's been criticized, such as the elbow to Anthony Stolarz and a hit on Matthew Knies.
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Sam Bennett Finally Apologizes
One of the best Reddit comments captured the mood: "There will be no sympathy when some takes a liberty with Bennett." Another called out, "Sounds like he had a bit to drink before taking the mic. Like he had hiccups or something."
Another said, "The league has had every opportunity to make a change, but they're showing his highlights on NHL Network instead. This is exactly what they want."
Notably, even some of the Panthers fans were let down.
One self-identified former season ticket holder penned, "The McGregor quotes were totally cringy and stupid by the players." Others complained about the departure from classy celebrations in past years, likening it to Alex Ovechkin's celebratory 2018 Cup night, which stayed upbeat without going after opponents.
Also read:
'Apologize to absolutely f-----g no one': Sam Bennett fires back at 'dirty play' claims
Sam Bennett might have raised the Stanley Cup, but his off-ice comments have added another layer to his divisive image. While some will always admire his physicality of play, most are now questioning the character behind the jubilation—and whether the NHL is being proactive enough in encouraging responsibility over brutality.
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