The Florida Panthers just pulled off one of the biggest moves of the summer by landing Brady Tkachuk. But Bill Zito might not be done yet.
There’s a massive hole in net staring at the organization right now. Sergei Bobrovsky, the guy who backstopped them to back-to-back Cups in 2024 and 2025, still hasn’t signed a new deal. Neither has Daniil Tarasov. As of this writing, Florida has zero goaltenders under contract for 2026-27. Zero.
The Panthers have 19 players already locked in for next season. The forward group is loaded. The blue line is solid. But the crease is a ghost town.
Negotiations with Bobrovsky are still happening, but there’s real doubt about whether he’ll stay in Sunrise. At 36, the two-time Vezina winner might want a longer term or more money than Florida is comfortable giving. And if he leaves, the Panthers need a Plan B.
Binnington’s name keeps popping up
According to David Pagnotta at The Fourth Period, the Panthers have their eyes on St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington.
Binnington is 32 and heading into the final year of his six-year, $36 million deal. He’s got a 10-team no-trade list, which gives him some say in where he ends up. The Blues are reportedly shopping him, looking to clear cap space and clear a path for Joel Hofer, who had a breakout 2025-26 season and looks like the future in net for St. Louis.
Binnington had his ups and downs last season. But the guy has a track record in big moments. He won a Cup with the Blues in 2019. He looked sharp for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Olympics in Milan. When the pressure’s on, he doesn’t usually fold.
Florida isn’t the only team circling
Pagnotta also reported that the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs are all reevaluating their goaltending situations. So Binnington might have multiple suitors if the Blues make him available.
And it’s not just him. Connor Hellebuyck could be on the move too, which means the goalie market this summer might be one of the wildest in years. The Panthers are clearly doing their homework early.
(At least one fan on Reddit pointed out that Binnington’s playoff swagger would fit right in with a Florida team that just added Tkachuk’s intensity. The team hasn’t confirmed anything, but the rumors aren’t going away.)
If Bobrovsky walks, the Panthers could go younger with a cheaper option. Or they could swing for a veteran who’s been through the wars. Binnington fits that second description. The question is whether Zito thinks he’s worth the price tag and the roster spot.
Either way, Florida’s goaltending situation is the biggest unanswered question on a roster that otherwise looks ready to contend again. And training camp is still months away.
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