NHL Draft was a tale of two different classes for the Florida Panthers are they look to add potential gems to their pipeline.

The end of the 2024-25 NHL season saw back-to-back champions Florida Panthers hoist the Stanley Cup on the ice. However, it’s now time to look forward to the next season of pro hockey, while the 2025-26 season officially begins with the NHL Draft — which takes place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles,

Even though roster moves and head coaching hires have already been made, the start of the NHL draft is the real official kickoff to the league's offseason. The first round begins on Friday night in Los Angeles,

Sam Bennett could have gone to free agency and picked his landing spot, plus probably could have signed for much more money than the Florida Panthers were able to offer.

Bennett - who led the NHL with 15 goals in this year's playoffs and became the first Panthers player ever to score that many in a single postseason - is staying with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.

The Panthers signed Conn Smythe winner Sam Bennett to an eight-year extension worth $64 million on Friday night, hours before the start of the NHL draft.