Sergei Bobrovsky backstopped the Florida Panthers to three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances and two championships. But it looks like his run in Sunrise is over.
After the Panthers traded for Akira Schmid from the Golden Knights and Jacob Markstrom from the Devils earlier this week, all signs point to Bobrovsky testing free agency when the market opens Wednesday afternoon.
According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, the two sides never got close on an extension. Like, not even in the same ballpark.
“It never got close between Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers, which is quite surprising,” Kypreos wrote. “Bobrovsky was looking for a contract similar in term to the ones signed last year by Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad, but the Panthers didn’t approach that.”
What’s Next for the Two-Time Champ
Bobrovsky is 37 and coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. Over 52 starts he posted a 3.07 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage. That’s rough. And the Panthers missed the playoffs entirely.
But his résumé still carries weight. Two rings. Three deep runs. Big-game reputation. Kypreos thinks a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs could make a pitch for a three- or four-year deal if the average annual value makes sense.
And yeah, the Leafs are expected to push. But Bobrovsky won’t lack for suitors. Teams always overpay for goalies with hardware, even when the underlying numbers look ugly.
What’s clear is that Panthers GM Bill Zito wasn’t comfortable matching what Bobrovsky wanted. The guy got paid $10 million per year on his last deal. He won’t get that again, but he’ll still command a high AAV for a short term. Zito apparently said no thanks.
Bobrovsky’s game has slipped. He’s older. But he’s also proved he can steal a series when it counts. Some team will bet that the playoff version still exists.
We’ll probably know where he’s headed within hours. Free agency opens Wednesday. Bobrovsky should have a new address by Thursday.
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