$17,700,000 Panthers star makes his feelings known about playing alongside Brad Marchand in Stanley Cup Finals 

Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett said he has enjoyed playing alongside Brad Marchand in the Stanley Cup Final.

Marchand was traded by the Boston Bruins to the Panthers in March and has been integral to their playoff run. Marchand is in outstanding form and has scored six goals in Final, leading the Panthers to a 3-2 series lead against the Edmonton Oilers.

Speaking after the Panthers' 5-2 win in Game 5, Bennett, who is approaching the end of his four-year, $17.7 million contract, praised Marchand's impact.

“He does everything,” Bennett said, via The Athletic. “He’s a guy that we follow. He’s a natural leader, he speaks up when he needs to speak and he goes out there and does the hard work that’s inspiring for guys. We all look up to him and look to him to lead. He’s done a fantastic job at that.”

Marchand scored twice in Game 5. His six goals are the most in a Final since 1988. He also became the first player to score five or more goals in the Final against two teams and is tied for 10th in playoff game-winning goals. He also brings leadership and energy to the locker room.

Bennett has also had a successful postseason, scoring his 15th goal in Game 5 against the Oilers. He has the record for most road goals in a single postseason, with 13. He's also scored in six consecutive away games.

Brad Marchand is enjoying the Panthers' Stanley Cup Finals run

The Panthers will host Game 6 with a chance to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight year, while the Oilers need a win to stay alive. It will be interesting to see what happens after the puck drops on Tuesday, but for now, Brad Marchand is enjoying the process.

"I've said it a ton of times, we're just enjoying the moment," Marchand said, via NHL.com. "It's a special time, special memories that we're going to have forever... just excited."

The Panthers defeated the Oilers in seven games last year and will look to become the first team since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021 to defend their title.