Toronto Maple Leafs Dealt Huge Blow in Their Pursuit of Sam Bennett

Sam Bennett is going to be one of the biggest draws of free agency this year, and for very good reason. Ultimately, he has been having an amazing postseason, and he might just win another Stanley Cup.

The Florida Panthers have a ton of free agents this summer, and signing all of them is simply not going to be possible. As a result, fans are curious about what is going to happen next.

It should come as no surprise that the Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the many teams that are interested in bringing Bennett on board.

There have been numerous conflicting reports as it pertains to Bennett and his willingness to play for a franchise with lots of fanfare, like the Maple Leafs.

According to the latest report from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, things are not looking so good right now. As he explains, Bennett and the Panthers have made progress on an extension. Simply put, don't expect him to go to free agency.

This would certainly be a disappointment for Leafs fans, but there are still other players that the franchise can target. For instance, Bennett's teammate Brad Marchand.

There are quite a few free agents available this summer, although Bennett remains a particular favorite thanks to everything he is able to do on the ice.

It is easy to see why Maple Leafs fans are so attached to the idea of the guy wearing the blue and white leaf

This is certainly going to be a fascinating offseason, and we cannot wait to see what Leafs general manager Brad Treliving can do for his team, which desperately needs an improvement on offense.