The Florida Panthers seem to be sticking together through thick, and well, more thick. Nothing’s really been too thin for this team that has lifted the Stanley Cup two years in a row. However, given the NHL salary cap rule that intends to maintain an even playing field amongst all franchises, one might wonder how GM Bill Zito is managing to keep all his top players signed, especially Sam Bennett, who turned into a free agent soon after the Stanley Cup win and was dodging rumors about being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

However, putting the rumors to rest once and for all,

Bennett recently answered a question on the Empty Netters podcast about how the Panthers managed to get all of its boys to re-sign with the team. “Yeah, I mean, obviously we talked about it—like, we’re all great friends. But we just didn’t know how we were going to get it done,” Bennett replied, giving us some insight into the locker room conversation following the legendary Stanley Cup win. “Yeah, I guess you don’t really talk numbers that much with the other guys, but we all said if there’s a way that we can all stay, we’ve got to try and do it.” Bennett added that he, however, didn’t hide the fact that he definitely had some concerns.

“I mean, honestly, even after I signed and Ekki—or who was second? Yeah, Ekki was second—even after he signed, I was like, ‘Well, I guess we’re gonna lose [someone].” Bennett said, alluding to the salary caps and the difficulties in retaining a winning roster year after year; however, he gave full credit to Bill Zito, saying, “But yeah, I mean, Billy Z found a way. And it worked for the boys. Some of the boys—I guess it just shows the culture and how much the boys want to win and want to be on a great team that wins.” It’s true, from Mathew Tkachuk to Brad Marchand, lots of Florida Panthers players have spoken about how the winning culture on the team is part of what keeps them there. Sam Bennett, however, made sure to add what could have been had the players opted away from the Panthers.

“I mean, Ekki could’ve made probably… I don’t know, 9 million on the market? Maybe more.” Bennett said, to which the host of the podcast replied, “Oh yeah. All three of you, dude, all three of you could have got paid more.” However, Bennett capped that with a “For sure. But it just shows how badly we want to be part of that team. How badly we want to keep winning. I mean, it’s addicting—it truly is addicting being a part of this team we have there.” Which only forces one to wonder what it is that they have there in Florida, besides the winning culture.

Sam Bennett sheds even more light on the Florida Panthers locker room culture and what keeps players coming back

From coach Paul Maurice talking about the cultural depth of the team to Brad Marchand crediting the Florida Panthers’ culture for their champion status, there has been a lot of talk about the chemistry built within this team, and now, Sam Bennett has given us a more in-depth idea of what that actually means.

“Yeah, I mean, well, it’s a combination of everything. You just combine, like… the living, the lifestyle there—it’s amazing. You love living there.” Sam Bennett said, on what keeps him in Florida, adding, “Our fans are incredible, especially as they just keep growing every year, getting better and better. Our coaching staff—unbelievable. All the players—unbelievable. Our GM, the managers, how they treat us. Our ownership—they’re willing to do whatever we need.” Bennett added, even going on to expand on the fact.

“They built our team a brand-new facility, probably the nicest practice facility in the league, just because our GM said the players need a better practice facility. They’re willing to do those little things that make huge differences.” Sam Bennett said of the management and the ownership, clearly the Panthers are a team looking to last and keep this winning streak going for a long time to come, and clearly they’ve figured out chemistry and culture is the secret.