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Around the NHL: Panthers talking extension with Bennett, Ovechkin creeps closer to Gretzky’s goal record
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Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremy Tingly
Mar 17, 2025, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 17, 2025, 06:31 EDT
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The 2024-25 NHL season has hit the home stretch, as teams are starting to scoreboard watch across the league, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs roughly a month away. The playoff race is tight in both conferences, as it’s going to be a fun ride following along to see how the standings shape up to end the regular season.
The trade deadline is behind us, and several clubs are working through chemistry issues on the ice with their new arrivals, meanwhile, off the ice, there’s been plenty to talk about this past week. Here’s the latest buzz around the NHL:

Panthers working on contract extension with Sam Bennett

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Florida Panthers have opened up contract extension talks with pending unrestricted free-agent forward Sam Bennett. Friedman reported the very latest on Saturday, making it quite obvious the Panthers intend to keep Bennett in Sunrise, FL for the foreseeable future.
“Talks have resumed between Bennett and the Panthers,” stated Friedman. “They are trying, and it’s been a very good marriage between player, and team.” Bennett, 28, would be one of the most sought-after free agents this summer, if he does make it to July 1 unsigned. The Holland Landing, ON native, has registered 22 goals and 45 points in 66 games this season, and it’s his style of play that makes him an attractive piece up front for essentially every hockey club. There’s little doubt the Toronto Maple Leafs would be very interested should Bennett hit the open market, even with Scott Laughton now in the mix in Toronto.
Bennett is in the final year of his current deal, making $4.42 million AAV, and is in line for a hefty raise on his next contract. The Panthers currently project to have $19 million available to spend this summer, with defenceman Aaron Ekblad also due for a new deal, along with the newly acquired Brad Marchand. Marchand didn’t close the door on a potential return to Boston this upcoming offseason.

Aaron Ekblad suspended 20 games for PEDs

Speaking of Ekblad, the Panthers’ defenceman has been suspended 20 games for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA’s Performance Enhancing Substances program. The 29-year-old blueliner has scored three goals and 33 points in 56 games this year. He is recovering from injury and ended up taking a banned substance as he’s trying to work his way back from injury as soon as possible. He’ll now miss the rest of the Panthers’ regular season, plus two Stanley Cup Playoff games.
“As the NHL announced, I have been suspended for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program,” Ekblad said in a statement. “The news that I had failed a random drug test was a shock. Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel.
“I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake and will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates.”

Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin scores goal No. 887

On Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals’ legend Alex Ovechkin potted his 887th career goal, moving him just seven goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s record 894 career goals. Just to think what could have already been, as Ovechkin missed considerable time this season due to a lower-body injury.
Ovechkin is now up to 34 goals in 51 games this season with this marker:
Since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the Russian winger has scored eight goals in the 12 games since the league-wide pause. He’s currently on pace to break Gretzky’s record in the second week of April, which will be a great storyline to follow to close the regular season.
Not only is Ovechkin closing in on Gretzky’s record, but it’s also making for a worthy cause. Ovechkin launched ‘The GR8 CHASE for Victory Over Cancer’, and has partnered with the V Foundation to raise funds for cancer research. “The whole thing, everything that’s happening right now with the organization, with the ‘GR8 Chase,’ everybody has heard about it, right,” Ovechkin said after the Capitals morning skate on March 12 “So I think it’s very important for us (to use that) to help kids, help people who have cancer to fight for it. It’s a cause that’s very important.”

Quick hits from around the NHL:

  • Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil is currently unavailable after suffering a concussion over the weekend. There’s an unclear timetable for his return to the Canucks’ lineup.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights extended goaltender Adin Hill on a six-year, $37.5 million contract extension.
  • Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard has taken 10-minute misconduct penalties in two straight games, as many are starting to question if the consistent losing is catching up to the young forward.
  • Winnipeg Jets’ defenceman Neal Pionk is considered week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. The right-handed blueliner has recorded 37 points in 66 games this season.
  • Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury and has 24 points in 64 games so far this year.
  • Panthers’ goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky passed Tony Esposito for 10th in all-time NHL goalie wins.
  • Jack Eichel recently set the Golden Knights’ single-season point record and sits with 80 points in 66 contests this season.
  • New Jersey Devils defenceman Dougie Hamilton is out for the season, and could potentially make a return at some point in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
  • Seattle Kraken defenceman Brandon Montour set the NHL record for the fastest goal in overtime, scoring just four seconds into the extra frame. The previous record was six seconds.
  • Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL with 103 points, two up on Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl.
  • Meanwhile, Draisaitl leads William Nylander by 12 goals in the Rocket Richard race and is currently sitting at 49 goals through 67 games.
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