Apr 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins before the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images

Panthers GM Bill Zito comments on Sergei Bobrovsky’s move to Maple Leafs

Jul 2, 2026, 10:30 AM CUT

Sergei Bobrovsky joined the Toronto Maple Leafs on a three-year contract on Wednesday, July 1, after becoming an unrestricted free agent.

The Russian goaltender was a part of the Florida Panthers for seven seasons before deciding to leave the franchise at the end of last season. After the 37-year-old departed the Panthers to join the Maple Leafs, their general manager, Bill Zito, was asked whether he believed that they could re-sign him.

“Anytime you want to re-sign a guy, you think there’s a chance,” said Zito in a press conference about the potential of extending the stay of Bobrovsky with the Panthers, as posted by NHL.com. “Things happen where decisions get made, and people move on, and it's a part of our game."

Notably, during his seven-year stay with the Panthers on a $70 million contract, signed on July 1, 2019, Bobrovsky won the Stanley Cup twice, in 2024 and 2025.

Jun 3, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito and Panthers head coach Paul Maurice are seen taking questions during media day in advance of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

"Nothing but appreciation and thanks for Sergei for all he's done for this organization and for me," Zito added in the same press conference.

In his 349 appearances for the Panthers in the regular season, he registered a 201-113-21 record for a .903 save percentage, 2.80 goals-against average, and 20 shutouts. He produced a 50-32-0 record in the 83 Stanley Cup Playoff games for them, including a .909 save percentage, 2.55 goals-against average, and six shutouts.

While his overall performances are second to none in Florida, Bobrovsky’s numbers weren’t quite up to his normal standards last season. In 2025-26, he could only muster a 27-23-1 record in 52 games for a .877 save percentage, his worst number in a 16-season-long NHL career.

The 3.07 goals-against average last season was the joint-second-worst for Bobrovsky during his time in the league. With that, the Panthers missed out on the playoffs last season after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.

It must have been one of the reasons why the Panthers and Zito might have decided not to re-sign him, as he apparently alluded to in the press conference.

Despite that, the Maple Leafs decided to give an opportunity to Bobrovsky to make amends in Toronto during the 2026-27 season and beyond.

What are the financial details of Sergei Bobrovsky’s contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Toronto reportedly signed Sergei Bobrovsky to a $21 million contract for three years, as per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman in a report published in Sportsnet.

A deal worth $7 million average annual value (AAV) between the Maple Leafs and Bobrovsky will continue till the end of the 2028-29 season.

Notably, at the Maple Leafs, one of Bobrovsky’s goaltending partners is Anthony Stolarz, who was a backup to him at the Florida Panthers. During their one and only season together at the Panthers in 2023-24, these two goaltenders ended up winning the Stanley Cup.

Stolarz has been playing for Toronto in the last two seasons after signing with them as a free agent on July 1, 2024. Also, apart from Stolarz, the Russian will also link up with Steven Lorentz and Oliver Ekman-Larsson at the Maple Leafs, who were his teammates at the Panthers.

Moreover, Bobrovsky will have to raise his standards compared to last season with the Panthers to give himself the best chance of success during his time at the Maple Leafs.

Will Sergio Bobrovsky turn out to be a top-notch signing for the Toronto Maple Leafs over the next three seasons? Share with us your opinion in the comments section.

Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar