The Florida Panthers made one of the biggest goalie moves of the offseason by bringing Jacob Markstrom back to the team where his NHL career started.

The trade also looks like the end of Sergei Bobrovsky’s time in Florida, as the Panthers change their goaltending group just before free agency.

The NHL shared the news first on its official Instagram account. Florida received Jacob Markstrom and forward Angus Crookshank from the New Jersey Devils.

In return, the Devils got forwards Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves. The Panthers drafted Markstrom in the second round of the 2008 NHL Draft, making this a return to his first NHL team.

Markstrom, 36, played 44 games for the Devils last season. He finished with a 23-19-1 record, a 3.07 goals-against average, an .883 save percentage, and one shutout.

The season before, he played even better. He posted a 2.50 goals-against average, a .900 save percentage, and four shutouts in 49 games.

Panthers general manager Bill Zito welcomed the reunion, saying, "Jacob is an established veteran leader in this league who possesses size and a relentless drive to win. We are excited for him to compete alongside our established group and return to South Florida."

As per the report by David Satriano of the NHL, Florida's recent moves show that Sergei Bobrovsky is likely leaving the team. The Panthers added Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid, making it clear they are ready for a new goalie group.

Bobrovsky will become an unrestricted free agent after helping Florida win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025. He leaves the Panthers after spending seven successful seasons with the team.

Florida Keeps Reshaping Its Roster Ahead of Free Agency

The same NHL.com report also said the Markstrom trade is just one part of Florida's big offseason changes. Over the last few weeks, the Panthers have made several major moves. Their biggest move was trading for Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators.

They also traded Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken, got the rights to defenseman Radko Gudas from the Anaheim Ducks, and added forward Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Meanwhile, New Jersey added more depth at forward by getting Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves. Rodrigues scored 31 points in 69 games last season.

He also won two Stanley Cups with Florida. Boqvist returns to the Devils after spending two seasons with other teams. Steeves gives New Jersey more depth after a strong season in the AHL.

For Florida, the biggest change is in the goal. The Panthers brought Jacob Markstrom back to the team where his NHL career started. At the same time, the move likely ends Sergei Bobrovsky's time with the Panthers. Florida has made several big changes this offseason and now looks ready for another run at the Stanley Cup.

What do you think? Will Markstrom be the right fit for Florida? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi