The Florida Panthers retained the services of defenseman Mike Benning, signing him to a new one-year, two-way contract that pays $775K at the NHL level.
The 23-year-old Benning suited up in 54 games with Florida’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, in 2024-25 producing 32 points, the second most among Checkers blueliners. His nine goals matched the amount he scored in 2023-24 as an AHL rookie. He also put up five goals and nine points in 18 postseason games to help the Checkers reach the Calder Cup Final.
After Benning was selected by Florida in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, he played three seasons at the University of Denver.
Hlinka Gretzky Cup
7th Place Game: Switzerland 5, Germany 2
5th Place Game: Czechia 5, Slovakia 2
Semifinal: Finland vs. Sweden 1 p.m. (NHL Network)
Semifinal: United States vs. Canada 1 p.m.