The Florida Panthers nearly bid farewell to veteran goalie Sergei Bobrovsky before the NHL trade deadline.

Throughout the season, there were signs that Florida was considering moving Bobrovsky. The suspicions were confirmed, with NHL insider Pierre LeBrun naming the Carolina Hurricanes as the interested party.

"The Hurricanes, league sources confirm, talked to Florida about Sergei Bobrovsky; My understanding is that Florida asked for a first-round pick at the outset," he stated, per NHL Rumour Report.

While the deal seemed possible, Florida's demand for a first-round pick pushed the Hurricanes away.

Bobrovsky's season fell short of his standard. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner posted a 27-20-3 record, a .876 save percentage, and a 3.09 goals-against average.

This marked a decline from his.906 save percentage and 2.44 GAA last season.

Despite the underwhelming numbers, Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour may have believed adding a proven winner could help push his team to a Stanley Cup triumph.

The Hurricanes were one of the NHL’s top teams during the regular season. But they reportedly considered getting an upgrade over Frederik Andersen.

On the other hand, the Panthers’ asking price for Sergei Bobrovsky was notable because of his large contract. The goaltender was in the final year of a seven-year, $70 million deal that carried a $10 million salary-cap hit per season.

Despite his inconsistent regular-season results, Florida believed his experience and accomplishments were worth a high return in any trade.

Hurricanes Were Looking for More Than Stability in Net

The failed trade revealed Carolina's desperation for playoff depth.

Goalie Frederik Andersen had a shaky season. He posted a 16-14-5 record with a 3.05 GAA and an .874 save percentage.

As a result, Carolina may have considered strengthening the position.

That is why the Hurricanes’ interest in Sergei Bobrovsky is notable. Teams usually do not pursue a veteran goalie with a large contract unless they feel close to winning a Stanley Cup.

The Florida Panthers also had reasons to be careful. After a disappointing 40-38-4 season, the team missed the playoffs and had to make decisions about veteran players.

The franchise is expected to have seven picks in the upcoming draft, with its centerpiece being the ninth overall pick in the first round. Adding another first-round pick would have been a great deal for the team.

In the end, however, the Panthers' demand proved too much for the Carolina Hurricanes.

The almost-completed trade underscores the balance between making bold moves and protecting future assets.

Should the Carolina Hurricanes have traded a first-round draft pick to acquire Sergei Bobrovsky before the NHL trade deadline?

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul