Panthers hold on to Sergei Bobrovsky. What’s next for the goaltender?
Sergei Bobrovsky’s legacy with the Florida Panthers is cemented.
His tenure with the franchise might not be over, either.
The Panthers did not trade the veteran goaltender ahead of the NHL’s 3 p.m. Friday trade deadline. With Florida essentially out of contention to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs, Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito became open to the idea of trading players on the roster who are set to be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season.
Bobrovsky, in the final year of his seven-year, $70 million deal with the Panthers, was among those options.
But ultimately, they didn’t deal him.
And now, there’s a chance he stays long-term. Zito said he has met with agents of the team’s pending unrestricted free agents with the hopes of signing them long-term.
“Sergei is a part of our franchise, part of our core,” Zito said, “and we want to try to keep him.”
Even in the midst of a down season — arguably the worst of his Hall of Fame career statistically — Bobrovsky has still shown glimpses of his greatness.
Friday, hours after the trade deadline, was the latest such example.
Bobrovsky stopped 28 of 29 shots he faced in Florida’s 3-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, a game that snapped a four-game losing streak.
“The outside was noise,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said postgame Friday of the trade rumors surrounding Bobrovsky. “It was that. It always affects you because you have a wife, kids, things, but absolutely not surprised that he played as well as he did because he’s been in the most pressure-filled game in our sport, a Game 7, and shut the door. He has that great ability.”
Bobrovsky has expressed that he wanted to stay with the team, presumably to end his career. But his camp and the Panthers thus far have not found a middle ground in both length of a deal and contract price. Those discussions will remain ongoing.
His teammates certainly don’t want him going anywhere.
“We’re all going to wine and dine him if it gets closer to a decision if nothing’s there,” said star winger Matthew Tkachuk, who had a hat trick in the win over Detroit Friday. “All 20 guys are going to go up to him and try to get him to come back. We need him. We want him. Not only for his play on the ice. He’s one of the best guys in the world.”
Either way, Bobrovsky made his mark with Florida — a journey that started with its share of bumps in the road but ultimately saw Bobrovsky elevate his game back to a championship level.
The 37-year-old netminder anchored Florida’s runs to the Stanley Cup Final each of the past three years, including winning back-to-back championships the past two seasons. He logged six combined shutouts in those three postseason runs.
But this season, his production has completely fallen off — partially due to his own demise, partially because the lineup in front of him has been decimated by injuries.
His .876 save percentage this season is the worst of his career. His 3.08 goals-against average is the second worst, behind only the 3.23 mark during his first season with the Panthers. Bobrovsky has a minus-21.71 goals saved above average mark as well, the third-worst in the NHL.
Even with the poor stats, Zito defended his goaltender.
“Decline isn’t the word I would use,” Zito said. “I think he’s fine. He’s had a heck of a workload. He’s a consummate professional. I want Sergei to stay, and I’m looking forward to having him back.”
He’s back for at least for the rest of the season — and potentially beyond if Zito and Bobrovsky’s camp can come to terms.
“There’s no other goalie we want to play in front of,” Tkachuk said. “He’s the backbone. He’s the biggest reason why we have two Stanley Cup rings. He’s one of the biggest reasons why this organization is where it’s at.”
For now, Bobrovsky will continue to work in tandem with Daniil Tarasov. The team on Wednesday signed Louis Domingue to a one-year, two-way contract for the rest of the season, so he’s a potential option to come up at some point. The Panthers also have Cooper Black and Kirill Gerasimyuk at the AHL level with the Charlotte Checkers.
Florida only made two trades ahead of the deadline — sending defenseman Jeff Petry to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday for a conditional 2026 seventh-round draft pick and bringing in forward Vinnie Hinostroza from Minnesota on Friday for unspecified future considerations.
Forward A.J. Greer, another hotly discussed pending Panthers free agent, also was not dealt and could potentially be signed to an extension.
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 3:37 PM.
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