Florida Picked Up Jacob Markstrom After His .883 Season, And Sergei Bobrovsky Is GONE

Alright, hockey fans, grab your coffees, because the NHL just dropped a bomb that's got the whole league buzzing! The Florida Panthers made a move that nobody quite saw coming. They officially acquired goalie Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils, and this isn't just a minor roster tweak. Oh no, this trade is shaking things up big time, because it means two-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky is now hitting the free agent market. Can you believe it? A Vezina Trophy winner, a guy who helped them lift two Cups, is out on the street. Wild!

The Markstrom Mystery

So, let's talk about Jacob Markstrom. The Panthers got him, along with center Angus Crookshank, by sending forwards Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves over to the Devils. Markstrom, at 36 years old, is actually starting a fresh two-year contract he signed with the Devils last November, carrying a $6 million cap hit. And here's the kicker: that extension was pretty controversial in New Jersey. Why? Because Markstrom posted his worst numbers since 2014 last season, rocking an .883 save percentage. Yeah, you read that right. He finished 23-19-1 with a 3.07 goals-against average. To be fair, he's actually a familiar face in Florida, drafted by the Panthers in 2008 and playing his first four seasons there before being traded to Vancouver in 2014 in the Roberto Luongo deal. But still, picking him up after *those* numbers? It's a head-scratcher, especially with their other moves, like snagging restricted free agent goalie Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights this week.

Bobrovsky's Shock

Trade on Every Game with Kalshi

Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.

ing Exit This brings us to the biggest storyline here: Sergei Bobrovsky. The 37-year-old, two-time Vezina Trophy winner, just finished the final year of his massive seven-year, $10 million contract. And get this, he was apparently seeking both term and a salary *above* market value for a goalie his age. Now, you can't blame him for wanting to get paid, especially with those two Cup rings. But his regular season numbers have seen a decline, putting him 26th in save percentage among goalies over the last two seasons, minimum 80 games played. The Panthers, hoping for a discount given his long tenure and those championships, instead saw him head straight for unrestricted free agency on July 1. Teams like Toronto, Edmonton, Carolina, and San Jose are already being floated as potential landing spots. It's truly the end of an era for Bobrovsky in Florida.

What's Next for the Devils and the League?

For the Devils, they're getting back a couple of pieces. Evan Rodrigues, 32, was part of those two Stanley Cup winning Panthers teams, contributing 11 goals and 20 assists in 69 games last season. Boqvist, 27, actually returns to New Jersey, where he started his career after being a second-round pick. Devils GM Sunny Mehta knows both of them well, having been an assistant GM in Florida before taking the top job. Now, Mehta's got his work cut out for him, filling out the crease with only Jake Allen as their veteran option. It’s a bold move for Florida, and a pivotal moment for Bobrovsky. This definitely kicks off free agency with a bang, and you know the rest of the league, including our boys in the Emerald City, are watching closely to see where all these dominoes fall!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.