Rumors around Sergei Bobrovsky potentially being traded as a rental ahead of the March 6 deadline have begun to pick up steam over the past few weeks.
Despite the rationale for the Florida Panthers making such a move, there was plenty of skepticism about how much truth there really was to the speculation. However, recent comments from insider Jeff Marek have not only confirmed the chatter but added fuel to the fire in what has become a major situation to watch over the next two weeks.
“The other thing that I do wonder about here is, I really wonder about the goaltending situation. I really do wonder if he’s not coming back, and I have not heard anything about a contract extension with Sergei Bobrovsky. I would not be surprised if the Florida Panthers moved Sergei Bobrovsky. And if they do that, I would wonder about a team like the San Jose Sharks… That is a move that would make sense to me for both teams if Florida is not going to bring back Bobrovsky. If we’re going to play goalie on the move, San Jose would make sense to me for Bobrovsky,”
The 37-year-old Bobrovsky is, of course, a pending UFA in the seventh and final year of the seven-year, $70 million contract he signed to join the Panthers in free agency of 2019. He has gone 21-17-1 in 39 starts this season while posting a 3.13 goals-against average, an .871 save percentage, and three shutouts along the way.
Teams Linked to Sergei Bobrovsky
While Marek specifically wondered about the San Jose Sharks, they aren’t alone when it comes to potential landing spots floated for Bobrovsky.
The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens — two teams that have been brought up in the sweepstakes for just about every goalie who has become available this year — have also surfaced in connection to the two-time Vezina Trophy winner.
Edmonton would have a very difficult time pulling off such a move, having traded for Tristan Jarry just over two months ago while also working with limited cap space. Montreal, on the other hand, is better equipped to swing for a rental, though that hasn’t typically been the type of move Kent Hughes has preferred to make during his tenure as GM.
San Jose has the most cap space and assets to realistically get a deal done. However, given they’re just beginning their upward trajectory and aren’t far removed from acquiring 23-year-old Yaroslav Askarov — who they view as the future in net — there are complications when it comes to them landing Bobrovsky as well.
That said, if the Sharks felt confident they could extend Bobrovsky and pair him in a tandem with Askarov — a fellow Russian — to help his development over the next two to three years, then Marek might be onto something.
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