George Richards, FHN Publisher
FORT LAUDERDALE — It has been seven years since Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been in the final year of a contract.
Back in 2019, Bobrovsky’s future home was about all anyone wanted to talk about either when he was home in Columbus or when the Blue Jackets went on the road.
This year is different.
There has been very little chatter about Bobrovsky’s future plans — with many just assuming he will remain with the Panthers, the team that lifted him from Columbus with what, at the time, was the biggest contract (seven years, $70 million) the team had ever handed out.
“I’m fine with that to be honest,” Bobrovsky told FHN earlier this week.
But with Bobrovsky telling FHN that contract talks have not started (something GM Bill Zito did not want to talk about in his chat with the media on Tuesday) the rumor mill has at least started to churn when it comes to the Panthers and Bobrovsky with the NHL Trade Deadline coming next Friday afternoon.
It would be very surprising to see the Panthers trade Bobrovsky.
Period.
The general feeling around the team is that Bobrovsky remains a big part of Florida’s future plans which include bringing the Stanley Cup back to Fort Lauderdale.
Yes, the Panthers are staring up at an eight-point hole in trying to make the playoffs this year, but that does not mean anything in Florida’s big-picture outlook.
Bobrovsky wants to remain part of it.
Florida has made it pretty clear they are going for it into the next decade after signing Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand to long-term contracts last summer.
The Panthers have 10 players signed through 2030.
“I love this team, love the city, love the organization,’’ said Bobrovsky, who has a 16-team modified no-trade list in this final year of his contract.
“I don’t really think about the future. I’m just in the moment right now. I think about the next practice, that’s about it. I’m sure I’m going to be fine.
“I don’t know what’s being said outside, but I love the team, these guys. I love the challenge that we’re in. I want to do my best to help the team make the playoffs and make a good push, a big playoff run. That’s where my focus is: Stopping the puck and winning games.’’
But?
“We have smart management and they have their thinking,’’ Bobrovsky continued, “pieces moving and stuff. I can’t control that. Again, my position is that I love this team and I love being here. I love everything here.’’
This has not been Bobrovsky’s greatest season — actually, statistically it is his worst — but he has never been too concerned with numbers.
“He’s never been a numbers guy for us — except for wins,’’ Paul Maurice said. “And that number has been pretty darned good. He is an elite player on our team.’’
Looking at the numbers, Bobrovsky is allowing 3.13 goals per game for just the third time in his career. All three of those seasons came with the Panthers.
His .871 save percentage is lowest of his career and ranked near the bottom of the NHL. Bobrovsky has never finished a season with a save percentage under .900 save for his second season with Philadelphia where he was a .899.
“It is hard for me to separate myself from the team,’’ Bobrovsky said. “Of course, I can do better. You can do worse, too. I know I try my best to provide our team a chance to win the games. Sometimes I am able to do that, sometimes not.
“But at this point of the season, it doesn’t really matter what happened before. We have these games ahead of us. That’s what I am excited about, that’s what I am focused on.’’
Some will point at Bobrovsky’s age. He did turn 37 during training camp, and will be 38 when the next one gets going.
Bobrovsky does not look 37, and he certainly does not play like he is 37.
He has years left in him.
When the Panthers traded Spencer Knight a year ago, we asked Maurice what the future of goaltending looked like in Florida.
Maurice said it’s all about Bob.
“The future of the Florida Panthers is Sergei Bobrovsky,” Maurice said. “This guy is in his prime. You want to look at his age? That’s fine. But he is in his prime right now. He is playing the best hockey he has ever played, he feels good. I don’t think we’re looking too far down the road. We’re also not saying that no one expires here at a certain age.
“But Bobrovsky is playing in his prime right now. He could play another five years if he wants.”
Who knows about that.
But Bobrovsky knows he can help carry this team. He seems ready to prove it starting tonight against the Maple Leafs.
Although Bobrovsky’s numbers are down this season, there has certainly been times where he has looked like the goalie who helped the Panthers win the past two Stanley Cup championships.
The Panthers need Bobrovsky to be close to his best in this final stretch.
He knows it, too.
“We need to just come together, play our game and take things one moment at a time,’’ Bobrovsky said. “We don’t need to think about 25 games left. We have to think about the first game, the first period, the first shift of the game. Build from there. Our structure is solid, we have a great group of guys. Bring it all together, push each other each and every moment.’’
Bobrovsky took some time to get away and get a little vacation in during the Olympic break, something his teammates did not think he would do.
He says he is refreshed, and, he has been up-and-down the ice since Florida resumed workouts last Saturday.
“It was a long break, for sure. Is what it is,” Bobrovsky said. “I had a good break, got some good rest. I am excited about the upcoming challenge.”