After holding on to star netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, the Florida Panthers are now shifting their focus on trying to re-sign the pending unrestricted free agent.
“Sergei is a part of our franchise, part of our core, and we want to try to keep him,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said after the deadline passed.
Bobrovsky, 37, is in the final season of a seven-year, $70 million that carries an average annual value of $10 million.
The Panthers are currently focused on trying to re-sign Sergey Bobrovsky.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 6, 2026
After backstopping the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories over the past two years, Bobrovsky’s play has slipped this season with a an .873 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average in 42 starts.
The Novokuznetsk, Russia native is a veteran of 16 NHL seasons, and carries a career .912 save percentage to go along with a .260 goals-against average in time spent with the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Panthers. He is also a two-time NHL first-team All-Star.
Florida are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time since since the 2018-19 season, sitting last in the Atlantic Division with a 30-29-3 record.
They are 10 points back of the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.