Just a few days after losing future Hall-of-Fame goaltender Roberto Luongo to retirement, the Florida Panthers have scooped up another star caliber goaltender of their own.
Coming off a surprise first-round sweep with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Sergei Bobrovsky signed with the Panthers on a seven-year deal.
Reported from SportsNet’s Chris Johnston, the average amount per year for salary will be exactly $10 million. This would make him as the second-highest paid goalie in the NHL.
Sergei Bobrovsky's seven-year deal with #FlaPanthers carries a $10M AAV — second to Carey Price ($10.5M) among NHL goaltenders.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2019
Bobrovsky is coming off a successful regular season where he gained .913 save percentage, a 2.58 goals against average (GAA), and league-led nine shutouts.
In the postseason with the Jackets, he went 6-4 in 10 games played and finished with a 2.41 GAA and .925 save percentage on route to sweeping the President’s Trophy winner Tampa Bay Lightning. They eventually would lose to the Boston Bruins in six games one round later.
The 31-year-old will join the new-look Panthers with fellow free agent signings of defenseman Anton Strallman, forward Brett Connolly, and center Noel Acciari on a big first day of NHL Free Agency.
They will also coached by newly-hired head coach in Joel Quenneville as well.
So it appears #FlaPanthers off-season adds…
— Steve Goldstein #goldieonbermuda419 (@goldieonice) July 1, 2019
Joel Queneville
Sergei Bobrovsky
Anton Stralman
Brett Connelly
Noel Acciari
Playoff experience, helps each position, adds some bite to the lineup…and top 5 goalie https://t.co/qMjSVgMJiP