5 Potential NHL Free-Agent Landing Spots for Sergei Bobrovsky
On July 1, 2019, the Florida Panthers signed Sergei Bobrovsky to a seven-year, $70 million contract. Coming off seven seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets that included two Vezina Trophy wins, he became one of the highest-paid goaltenders in the league at that time.
It turned out to be a worthwhile investment for the Panthers. Over the course of his contract, he backstopped them to three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances, including back-to-back Cup wins in 2024 and 2025.
This season hasn't been a good one for Bobrovsky and the Panthers. With the roster depleted by injuries, he and his teammates have been eliminated from playoff contention.
The 37-year-old has endured one of the worst seasons of his 16-year NHL career: his 3.05 goals-against average and .878 save percentage rank near the bottom among this season's starting goalies.
Despite his age and poor stats this season, the lack of quality goaltending in this summer's free-agent market could make him an enticing target for teams seeking an experienced starter.
At this stage of Bobrovsky's career, he won't get another lucrative long-term contract. Nevertheless, he could get offers of a two or three-year contract worth an average annual value of $5 million, which is how much he made for a base salary this season after receiving his $1 million signing bonus last July.
Follow along as we examine five potential free-agent landing spots for the future Hall of Famer.
Anaheim Ducks
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The Anaheim Ducks made significant progress in their rebuilding process this season. After seven years out of the playoff picture, they're jockeying with the Edmonton Oilers for first place in the Pacific Division and have a good chance of ending their long postseason drought.
Lukas Dostal has filled their starter's job over the past two seasons, sitting among this season's league leaders in games played (52) and wins (29). However, the Ducks' 3.52 goals-against per game is the league's fourth-highest this season.
Dostal could benefit from an improved defense in front of him. It might also help to have a seasoned veteran such as Bobrovsky to share the workload and mentor him in handling the pressure of playoff hockey. The future Hall of Famer could be an improvement over current backups Petr Mrazek and Ville Husso.
The Ducks have a projected $41.3 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27 with 13 active roster players under contract. They must re-sign rising stars such as Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier to lucrative new deals, but there should be enough left to sign Bobrovsky to a reasonable short-term deal.
Carolina Hurricanes
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Since 2018-19, the Carolina Hurricanes have regularly been among the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They've reached the Eastern Conference Final three times, become division champions three times, and finished second or third overall in the league standings four times.
However, the Hurricanes have been unable to find a goaltender to carry them to the Stanley Cup. They're currently relying on oft-injured starter Frederik Andersen and an inexperienced Brandon Bussi, and they could be in the market for a goalie with Cup experience if they fall short this season.
Two days before the March 6 trade deadline, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman included the Hurricanes among the potential landing spots for Bobrovsky. While the Panthers retained the veteran starter, the Hurricanes could revisit their rumored interest if he goes to market on July 1.
The Hurricanes have $14.2 million in projected cap space for 2026-27 with 19 active roster players under contract, and defenseman Alexander Nikishin as their only notable player to re-sign. Andersen is slated to become a UFA this summer, which could make room for Bobrovsky if he's open to an affordable short-term deal.
Edmonton Oilers
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Granted, this is a long shot given that the Edmonton Oilers were reportedly among the teams on Bobrovsky's no-trade list. However, he could have a different opinion if he can't find more suitable free-agent destinations this summer.
Goaltending has been the Achilles' heel of the Edmonton Oilers. They traded the much-criticized Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins in December for Tristan Jarry, but that only made things worse as Jarry struggled with his new team.
With superstar center Connor McDavid on a two-year contract starting next season, the clock is ticking for the Oilers to build a lineup around him that can win that elusive Stanley Cup that they've been chasing for the past two seasons.
The Oilers have $16.7 million in projected cap space for next season with 15 active roster players (including their core talent) under contract. What better way to address their goaltending issues than by signing the goaltender who stymied them in the last two Stanley Cup Finals?
Florida Panthers
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The clutch goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky played a significant role in the Florida Panthers' rise from a perennial playoff also-ran to back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. Both sides could be reluctant to part ways after such a successful run.
It was rumored before the March 6 trade deadline that the Panthers were willing to entertain trade offers for Bobrovsky. However, they opted instead to hang onto their long-time starting goaltender, as general manager Bill Zito expressed his intent to sign him to a contract extension.
What that contract will be could be challenging for both sides. The Panthers have a projected $15.5 million in salary-cap space for 2026-27 with 18 active roster players under contract. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman claimed Bobrovsky's camp sought a deal comparable to teammate Brad Marchand, but the Panthers refused.
The Panthers will be keen to bounce back in 2026-27 after injuries depleted their roster and hamstrung their hopes for another championship run. Bobrovsky will have to take a pay cut, but he might be agreeable to a short-term deal, or perhaps a bonus-laden, one-year 35-plus contract that could pay him up to $5 million.
Vegas Golden Knights
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Stumbling through a mediocre season by their standards, the Vegas Golden Knights seem assured of a playoff spot, sitting third in the Pacific Division. They recently made a coaching change, replacing Bruce Cassidy with John Tortorella in the hope it will help this team find an extra gear for the upcoming playoffs.
Goaltending has also been an issue for the Golden Knights this season. Injuries sidelined Adin Hill and Carter Hart, but their stats haven't been that good when they've been healthy. Meanwhile, Akira Schmid has seen limited action as Hill's backup.
Given the Golden Knights' ruthless drive for a Stanley Cup each season, it wouldn't be shocking if they signed Bobrovsky this summer. Hill is signed through 2029-30 with a $6.25 million annual cap hit and a 10-team no-trade list, but Hart and Schmid are on affordable contracts that can be buried in the minors or traded.
The Golden Knights have only $4.6 million in projected cap space for 2026-27 with 16 active roster players under contract, but they always find a way to make the cap dollars fit to suit their roster. Alex Pietrangelo ($8.8 million cap hit) could be on permanent long-term injury reserve, freeing up room to sign Bobrovsky.
Stats (as of Apr. 7, 2026) via NHL.com. Salary cap and contract info via PuckPedia.
