Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito meets the media to talk about signing Sam Bennett, NHL free agency, the draft, the Stanley Cup parade, and more on Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale.
The Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday; it was the second straight year the Panthers beat the Oilers for the Cup.
Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs after scoring 15 goals in the postseason — including an NHL-record 13 on the road.
The Panthers held their Stanley Cup championship parade last Sunday.
The Panthers Have Done It Again, Repeat as Cup Champs: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-repeat-stanley-cup-champions-2025/
How Brad Marchand Joined the Florida Panthers: https://floridahockeynow.com/brad-marchand-joins-florida-panthers-how-it-happened-nhl-trade-bruins/
2024 Stanley Cup Champions Honored at the White House: https://floridahockeynow.com/stanley-cup-champion-florida-panthers-honored-at-white-house/
Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning Bringing Hockey Outdoors – In Florida: https://floridahockeynow.com/nhl-outdoor-hockey-miami-tampa-florida-panthers-lightning/
The Florida Panthers Get Their Rings. They’re Spectacular: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-get-stanley-cup-championship-rings-theyre-spectacular/
The Florida Panthers Are Stanley Cup Champions: https://floridahockeynow.com/can-you-believe-it-florida-panthers-are-stanley-cup-champs/
Tuesday, the Panthers led 2-0 in the first off goals from Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk.
Reinhart made it 3-0 with his second of the game before he got his hat trick — and then a fourth goal.
Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
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Video Courtesy Florida Panthers / Panther Vision
21 Comments
great work !
Best GM in this market right now nothing against Pat Riley who put basketball on the map for Miami.
Thank you Bill Zito
Nice press on signing all 3 and more moves! Answers were just there!
The goalie will win for us
This is about keeping this winning team intact resigning the players get the job done training these younger rookies with the veteran experience from older players 👍🇨🇦🇺🇸💗🌴🌴🌴⛱️🚲🍾🍾🍾
I've followed the Panthers since Day 1. Suffered through a LOT of bad hockey — years and years of it. You could sense that things were changing when Mr. Viola bought the team, but the hiring of Bill Zito, in my mind, is the inflection point where the Panthers changed from bad to badass. THANK YOU, Bill Zito! The last few years have been SO much fun!
This guy sounds like he knows what winning looks like Go Panthers!
yo is bill geeked???
If you cheat like a bastard you will win! That is what you really mean you in regards to Bennett.This team is the scumbags of the league.
Bill has built the best team in hockey with back to back cups.Why was he not named GM of the year. The selection of the guy from Dallas was pure BS !!
Dumb ass take! Bill Zito is not doing some blow. He is one intense MF.
You don’t mess with Bill Zito.
I still don't understand why the best team in NHL is giving 8 years long contracts
Bill Ziton is a wisard.
He has made signings that are state of art in this tough biz. Signing Sam Bennett is the last diamond in his roster. Lets hope he can make Brad stay too.
And another big Russian goalie
Sounds like he gave Lou the last pick again 😅
Lou picked Devon Levi with the last pick of the 2020 Draft… He never got close to the big club, but, he helped get us Reinhart from Buffalo 😏
This hockey genius Zito built a perfect playoff team. So exiting to watch
Go Cat's Go
Definitely best GM, shame on the rest of the GM's for not making GM of the year. He deserves it for the last 5 years! The repeat says it all.
Go Zito Go