Kingston Frontenacs A native of
Holland Landing,
Ontario, he played
minor ice hockey for the York-Simcoe Express and then the
Toronto Marlboros. He played in the 2009
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament as a member of York-Simcoe, and was a teammate of
Connor McDavid. In 2012, he was selected ninth overall by the
Kingston Frontenacs in the
Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection Draft. He appeared in 40 games with the Frontenacs in
2012–13 and recorded 40 points to earn a place on the OHL's Second All-Rookie Team. One of the Bureau's scouts praised Bennett's offensive ability: "His puckhandling and playmaking are excellent and he has one of the best shots in this year's draft class. He has scored several goals from the high slot and coming in off the wing and has been very effective on the
power play." He finished the regular season with 36 goals and 91 points in 57 games. He was named to the OHL's Third All-Star Team. The
Calgary Flames selected Bennett with the fourth overall selection at the 2014 NHL entry draft, and he quickly signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the club. He attended the team's training camp prior to the
2014–15 season, where he injured his shoulder. Bennett admitted that the shoulder had ailed him the previous season in Kingston, but he initially failed to disclose the issue, stating he "wanted to play" and would "do anything to make the team and play in the NHL this year". Instead, Bennett's injury required surgery to repair, which the Flames said would prevent him from playing for several months. He scored 24 points in 11 regular season games for Kingston and added 3 assists as the Frontenacs were quickly eliminated in the OHL playoffs.
Calgary Flames (2015–2021) in October 2014 The Flames recalled Bennett to Calgary after Kingston's season ended, and he made his NHL debut in the team's final regular season game on April 12, against the
Winnipeg Jets. He recorded his first career point on his first shift – 33 seconds into the contest – assisting on a
Micheal Ferland goal in a 5–1 loss. Bennett was a regular player for the Flames in the
2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, and recorded his first NHL goal on April 19, a game-winner against
Eddie Läck of the
Vancouver Canucks in a 4–2 victory. Bennett played all 11 playoff games for the Flames, in which he scored three goals and added an assist. On January 13, 2016, Bennett scored four goals against the
Florida Panthers. At 19 years and six months, he became the youngest player in Flames history to score a
hat-trick, and the third-youngest player in NHL history to score four goals in a game. Bennett scored his first three goals within the first 17 minutes of the game, and added a fourth goal in the last minute of the third period. On September 6, 2017, the Flames signed Bennett to a two-year, $3.9 million contract extension worth $1.95 million annually. On July 24, 2019, Bennett was re-signed to a two-year contract.
Florida Panthers (2021–present) On April 12, 2021, Bennett, along with a sixth-round pick in
2022, was traded to the
Florida Panthers in exchange for draft rights to
Emil Heineman and a second-round pick in 2022. Bennett would immediately find offensive success with the Panthers, scoring three goals and two assists in his first three games with the team. In the final 10 games of the season with the team, Bennett would register 15 points, surpassing his point total in 38 games earlier in the season with the Flames. On July 26, 2021, Bennett signed a four-year, $17.6 million contract extension with the Panthers. Bennett entered the
2021–22 season hoping to continue his offensive success with the Panthers from last season, and he did just that. On October 16, 2021, in just the second game of the season, Bennett scored his second career
hat-trick in a 5–1 win over the
New York Islanders. Coincidently, it was his first hat-trick since recording his first one against the Panthers. Playing on a line with
Jonathan Huberdeau, Bennett continued to produce offensively throughout the season. Two games after his return to the lineup, Bennett scored another hat-trick, and added an assist for a four point game against the
Dallas Stars. The season would prove to be successful for both Bennett and the Panthers, as the team won their first
Presidents' Trophy in franchise history, and Bennett scored 28 goals and 21 assists for 49 points, crushing his previous career highs. Bennett would score three points in the Panthers first round series against the
Washington Capitals, which they won in six games. However, both Bennett and the Panthers hit an offensive wall as they faced the Lightning in the second round. The Panthers only managed three goals in the series, as they were swept by the Lightning in four games. Bennett would be held off the scoresheet for the entire series. game against the
Vancouver Canucks in November 2025 Coming off a successful season that ended in disappointment, Bennett and the Panthers looked for revenge in the
2022–23 season. Although his usual linemate, Jonathan Huberdeau, was traded to the Flames, Bennett was reunited with longtime Flames teammate
Matthew Tkachuk in the deal, and immediately found a new linemate. Although this provided both Bennett and Tkachuk with senses of familiarity, the Panthers were struggling to replicate the same firepower they had the previous year. Injuries plagued the Panthers, including Bennett, who suffered an injury on March 20, 2023 against the
Detroit Red Wings that held him out the rest of the regular season. However, he traveled with the team to play the
Boston Bruins. Despite missing game 1, Bennett made his return in game 2, scoring a goal in a 6–3 victory. Bennett and the Panthers were heavy underdogs against the Bruins, who broke multiple regular season team records and were one of the most successful regular season teams in NHL history. However, Bennett and the Panthers battled back from a 3–1 series deficit to force a game 7. In game 7, the Panthers came back, and Bennett assisted on
Carter Verhaeghe's
overtime goal, forcing one of the biggest upsets in NHL history. The Panthers would pull their momentum all the way to the
Stanley Cup Final, where they would lose to the
Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Bennett scored five goals and ten assists in the playoff run. Bennett started off the
2023–24 season injured, and would miss the first seven games of the Panthers season. He played his first game of the season on October 30, 2023 against the Bruins, lasting all but eight minutes before leaving the game after getting injured once again. Bennett would return to the lineup on November 12, where he once again find himself a consistent offensive contributor to the Panthers, reaching the 20-goal plateau for the second time in his career, as the Panthers won the
Atlantic Division. In game 2 of the Panthers first-round series against the Lightning, Bennett suffered an upper-body injury that would keep him out for the rest of the series. However, the Panthers beat the Lightning in five, and Bennett returned to the team for game 3 against the Bruins, scoring an assist. Bennett and the Panthers went on to win the
Stanley Cup in the
2024 Stanley Cup Final, defeating the
Edmonton Oilers in seven games after squandering a 3-0 series lead. In the
2024–25 season, the Panthers traded with the Bruins for
Brad Marchand. Reaching the
Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers had a rematch with the Oilers and won in six games. Bennett led the playoffs with 15 goals and was awarded the
Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP over Panthers teammate Marchand. ==International play==