The Florida Panthers have won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Sergei Bobrovsky anchoring their crease. The franchise has rewarded virtually every player who contributed to those championships with significant contract extensions.

However, one looming decision could test whether loyalty or business sense ultimately prevails. Bobrovsky enters the final year of his seven-year, $70 million contract, and one insider has recently questioned whether the Panthers will stick to their loyalty approach or adopt a more ruthless business mentality.

Insider Questions Panthers’ Approach to Sergei Bobrovsky’s Contract Situation

Bobrovsky has struggled significantly through the first two months of the 2025-26 NHL season. Despite winning two Vezina Trophies over his 15 years in the NHL, he currently posts an .886 save percentage, well below his career standards.

With him being 37, this has raised questions about whether he deserves another lucrative deal. Meanwhile, backup Daniil Tarasov has outperformed him with a .907 save percentage, though he faces less challenging competition.

Oilers Now host Jason Gregor addressed Florida’s looming Bobrovsky decision during the “DFO Rundown” podcast. The insider emphasized that contract years don’t always produce career performances despite popular belief.

“They got Bobrovsky, who has like an .886 percentage right now. And Daniil Tarasov, when he plays, he’s a .907. Now I know he doesn’t play as many of the top teams. I understand that,” Gregor noted. The host pointed to Bobrovsky’s situation as evidence against the contract year narrative.

Gregor pointed out how people assume that since it is the last year of someone’s deal, they will be absolutely terrific on the ice. But the insider made it clear that there are also a lot of greats who can’t maintain the same level of play by their final contract year. The insider acknowledged Bobrovsky’s age factors into the equation.

“Now Bob’s older, and you know it’ll be interesting to see what the Panthers do in that regard. They’ve pretty much signed everybody who has helped them win a Stanley Cup to significant deals. And that’s a loyalty factor,” he said. However, Gregor questioned whether loyalty serves the franchise’s best interests moving forward.

“I could argue that at times it hurts you after you’ve won, and you almost have to be a Bill Belichick cutthroat to say, ‘Hey Bob, this is unreal, but you know, we might pay you to be a backup and, you know, $2 million bucks. Sure, but we’re not giving you big-time starter money,” the insider stated.

Gregor wondered which approach GM Bill Zito would ultimately choose. “I wonder if Bill Zito and them would do that or if they’re like, ‘Hey, this guy helped us win two cups. We’ll sign him to a two- or three-year deal at $6 million-plus, and we move forward.’ So that to me is a storyline to watch in Florida,” he concluded.

The Panthers have months to evaluate Bobrovsky’s performance before making a final decision. If his struggles continue, Florida must choose between rewarding past championships or making a tough business call that could define their future.