It is a lost season for the Florida Panthers, who were looking to three-peat and create NHL history. However, injuries to Aleksander Barkov, Dmitry Kulikov (now back in the lineup), Tomas Nosek (back in the lineup), Seth Jones, and others have really derailed their season. Not to mention Matthew Tkachuk missed most of the season recovering from off-season surgery, and how healthy is he really?
Not to mention players like Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, and Brad Marchand are all banged up. There is a belief and reports that Marchand needs some type of surgery. However, people are being quiet on that one. However, all of a sudden, things have started to pick up regarding unrestricted free-agent goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
NHL Rumors: The Florida Panthers, and Sergei Bobrovsky
It was a lock when all the other pending free agents signed from the class of 2026 that he would not be on the market, and he may not. However, GM Bill Zito and Bobrovsky are not on a new contract extension, which would be a pay cut from his current $10 million cap hit. It has gotten people talking about his future with the club.
A new report from Pierre LeBrun this morning says the Panthers are sellers after their loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night and will be listening on trade calls on UFAs AJ Greer and Sergei Bobrovsky. Florida were sellers long before Tuesday night. They knew by the weekend, and Matthew Tkachuk knew a month ago the Panthers’ season was over when he told the media, “We’re in Trouble.”
Zito and the Panthers should listen to Bobrovsky, but that doesn’t mean they will trade him. Remember, the Panthers have a top-10 protected pick in 2026. Sure, they could get an asset for him and then re-sign him in the off-season, but is that something the player wants?
NHL Rumors: Florida Panthers and Sergei Bobrovsky Slow Playing Extension Talks
According to Jeff Rimer, former Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets play-by-play man, when asked about the situation involving the Panthers goalie on the Rod Pedersen Show, he believes Bobrovsky wants to stay, but there is a possibility he could leave if Zito got an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“I don’t know how delicate it is. I think it’s real. I think that certainly, if you look at Bill Zito and what he’s been able to accomplish here in the last couple of years, that has built back-to-back Stanley Cup championship teams. But it came at a price. There were draft picks given up, there were young players given up in order to pick up the key pieces that led them to back-to-back Stanley Cups.
Having said that, obviously, there would be interest around the NHL, a couple of teams in particular, to have a goalie, a Stanley Cup champion goaltender, a future Hall of Famer, on their squad. But you were absolutely correct, and I was listening at the start of the show, at least the start of this hour, and that is Sergei Bobrovsky, who I know very, very well, and have a pretty good friendship with him. I know that he really would prefer to finish the season and then re-sign here in Florida, as opposed to going somewhere else and finishing the year.
Having said that, I guess it’s a possibility. And what if somebody comes along and makes Zito the kind of offer that he can’t refuse? Obviously, he’ll have a discussion withhis star goaltender, and say, hey, we have every intention of bringing you back.
And obviously, the idea is, yeah, Bobrovsky will be back, or whatever player will be back next year. But hey, when you’re looking for assets, particularly a team like Florida moving ahead, why not?”
Bobrovsky has a 16-team no-trade list. Any deal that comes across Zito’s desk or phone will be run by Bobrovsky and his representation. Who needs goaltending besides Edmonton, Montreal, and Vegas? Most playoff teams already have their guy. And do Montreal and Edmonton really need goaltending or better defense. That leaves Vegas. But again, it comes down to who the Panthers would put on season-ending LTIR if they were to retain Bobrovsky’s salary.
NHL Rumors: Florida Panthers Want to Keep Sergei Bobrovsky
Remember, Bobrovsky wanted to sign in Florida in 2019. He has a history of not negotiating during the season. It is a down year for the Panthers. But given the players the Panthers just extended, does Zito want to go with a project between the pipes or keep a proven guy like Bobrovsky moving forward, and at what price?
Again, there are a lot of reports out there surrounding Sergei Bobrovsky. It would be shocking if he were traded from Florida. We know Dave Pagnotta cited a two-year deal as not out of the question for Bobrovsky and the Panthers.
The NHL Trade Deadline is at 3 pm on Friday, March 6th.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league. We’re also posting some stuff on Instagram.
