Sam Bennett wins Conn Smythe Trophy as Panthers claim 2nd straight Stanley Cup

Sam Reinhart's four goals led the way to the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup again over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, but it was a different Sam who took home the Conn Smythe Trophy. 

Sam Bennett was named the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced his name following the 5-1 Game 6 win over the Oilers to seal another league title. 

Though he didn't have a point in Game 6, Bennett was the leading goalscorer of any player in the playoffs this year, finding the back of the net 15 times, while adding seven assists for a total of 22 points. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Bennett joined some elite Stanley Cup Playoffs company, as the only other players to have at least 15 goals in the postseason before him were Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic and Sidney Crosby – all hockey legends. 

PANTHERS BEAT OILERS IN GAME 5 OF STANLEY CUP FINAL TO REACH BRINK OF TITLE

To begin the Stanley Cup Final, a rematch with the Oilers after defeating them in seven games last season, Bennett found the back of the net twice despite the overtime loss. 

He followed that up with a goal in Game 2’s victory as well as the Game 3 win to help Florida take a 2-1 lead in the series. 

Bennett’s final goal of the season came in Game 5’s win on Saturday night in Edmonton.  

The Panthers, a team filled with talent from top to bottom, added players like Brad Marchand and Seth Jones at the NHL trade deadline to fortify their roster. Both of those players made tremendous contributions throughout the playoffs to help Florida reach their goal once more. 

But the main core, which includes Bennett, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and more, led the way both in the locker room and by example. 

Bennett finished the regular season with 51 points (25 goals, 26 assists) over 76 games, but he turned it up a notch when his team needed it most in the playoffs. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Rafael Devers embraces new role with Giants after shocking Red Sox trade

Rafael Devers is starting his tenure with the San Francisco Giants on the right foot, and it began with him saying all the right things at his first news conference. 

Devers, putting on his new jersey for the first time since shockingly being traded by the Boston Red Sox, was introduced to Bay Area media Tuesday ahead of his first game. 

Devers was in the lineup as the team’s designated hitter, and the one big question about his new MLB chapter was where the Giants planned on playing him. 

Matt Chapman, a Gold Glover, is cemented at third base, Devers' natural position.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

But Devers doesn’t mind where he plays with his new squad. 

"I’m here to give my 100%," he said through an interpreter Tuesday. "I don’t put any buts. They’re the men in charge. 

RED SOX RAISE DOXXING CONCERNS TO POLICE AFTER RAFAEL DEVERS TRADE, OFFICIALS SAY

"I am here to play wherever they want me to play."

This is a different tone than Devers took all season with the Red Sox, which began when they signed Alex Bregman, another Gold Glove third baseman, to presumably start the year at the hot corner. 

That’s exactly what happened for Alex Cora’s team after Devers publicly said he wasn’t going to give up third base to Bregman in spring training. After conversations with Cora and the front office, he changed his tune. But it went escalated again when Triston Casas, the team’s starting first baseman, was lost for the remainder of the year. 

Devers publicly revealed he wouldn’t be playing first base, preferring to remain the full-time designated hitter. 

While there was a rift between Devers and the front office, he reportedly did not want to be traded. Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow spoke to the media Monday after the blockbuster deal, saying the team "had a different vision for him going forward than he had."

"We couldn’t get there, what we felt we needed from him, that would be in the best interest of the ball club," Breslow said.

Devers signed a 10-year deal worth $313.5 million in January 2023 to be a Red Sox cornerstone.

But the Giants, who assume all financial responsibilities for the remainder of that deal, are excited to see what Devers can bring in a loaded NL West.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

About Us

Virtus (virtue, valor, excellence, courage, character, and worth)

Vincit (conquers, triumphs, and wins)