"Marchand robbed"; "Gonna make $10M": NHL fans react to Sam Bennett winning Conn Smythe Trophy as 2025 NHL playoffs MVP 

Fans reacted online after Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for MVP of the 2025 NHL playoffs following the Panthers' Stanley Cup-clinching 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Sam Bennett led all skaters in playoff goals with 15 and was a force throughout Florida's dominant postseason run.

Fans were quick to hit social media to weigh in on Sam Bennett winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

One fan wrote:

"Marchand robbed."

Another fan wrote:

"He's gonna make $10M" on Sam Bennett's next contract."

Here are some more reactions from fans on X/Twitter:

"Should have been Bobrovsky - only consistent goalie in the playoffs not just one but two years. Without him they don't get through round 2," one fan said. "Someone is gonna give him $10 million a year so he can put up 35 points and get a 10 game suspension 2 games into the playoffs," another fan commented. "Boooo Marchy should have gotten it (but they obviously weren't gonna give it to the guy who just got there)," one fan added. "Well-earned!! Great job, Sam!! First the Four Nations Cup, then the Stanley Cup (and Conn Smythe). Congrats!!" another fan said.

In Game 6, Sam Reinhart (four goals) and Matthew Tkachuk each added goals for Florida, while Vasily Podkolzin tallied the lone goal for Edmonton.

Stuart Skinner stopped 20 shots, while Sergei Bobrovsky had 28 saves in the win.

Sam Bennett's Panthers win 5-1 against Oilers

The Panthers wasted no time getting on the board, opening the scoring at 4:36 of the first period. Sam Reinhart seized an error by Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard, grabbing the puck and beating Stuart Skinner with a sharp glove-side shot.

Late in the first, another another from Bouchard at the blue line handed Florida an odd-man rush. Matthew Tkachuk didn’t miss, firing a perfect shot to double the Panthers' lead to 2-0.

Florida extended their dominance in the second period at 17:31. Carter Verhaeghe’s shot on Skinner created a juicy rebound in the crease. Aleksander Barkov quickly fed the puck to Reinhart, who redirected it off his skate and into the net, making it 3-0.

Reinhart wasn’t done yet. With 6:34 remaining in the third, he capitalized on an empty net after the Oilers pulled Skinner, pushing the score to 4-0. Just over a minute later, Reinhart struck again into the vacant net, stretching Florida’s lead to a commanding 5-0.

The Oilers finally broke through with 4:42 left, as Vasily Podkolzin found the back of the net. However, it was too little, too late, with the Panthers cruising to a 5-1 victory to win back-to-back Stanley Cups.

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Edited by Veer Badani