Insider Reveals Panthers' Feelings on a Bobrovsky Return

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky

After the Florida Panthers worked wonders to bring back all of their unrestricted free agents last year, this season's big pending UFA, Sergei Bobrovsky, figured they'd pony up for him, too.

So far, however, the two sides are not in the same page as to what the iconic 37-year-old goaltender's value is on an extension.

Insider Frank Seravalli, speaking on the Halford & Brough show, pontificated that the Panthers will come around. And there's one specific reason why:

There's clearly a hang-up. These two sides have not been that close. Can he bounce back and be The Guy? I think they believe the answer is yes. I also happen to think they're looking at the trade and free agent market going, 'this is not very appealing'... We might just be better off giving it a whirl with Bobrovsky, who doesn't appear to want to leave, and just get this band back together and get the magic again.

The free agent market for goalies will basically consist of Stuart Skinner (unless the Penguins get sold on him during a playoff run) and Freddie Andersen. The trade market might consist of Anthony Stolarz, and perhaps Thatcher Demko... But with so many injury issues for the Vancouver Canucks netminder, he scares a lot of people.

So in the end, Seravalli feels the Panthers will realize they've got to get something done with Bob.

"I believe that the plan is to bring him back. I think they've chalked up this season as a bit of a lost year where a lot of things have conspired against them: injuries, the timing of them, a run of poor play."

Just shrug it off and run it back in 2026-27. With Playoff Bob.