Has Sergei Bobrovsky Played His Final Game with the Florida Panthers?
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Paul Maurice urged caution in judging individual players for the Florida Panthers this year when asked how he thought Sergei Bobrovsky played this season. ”I think his season,’’ Maurice said of Bobrovsky, “is exactly like the Florida Panthers. ’’ Maurice went on to say that Bobrovsky’s success and failures this season hinged a lot on what the Panthers put on the ice.
A free agent once the season comes to a close on Wednesday night, it is very possible that Bobrovsky’s seven-year run with the Panthers will end as well. He played two games on this past road trip in Pittsburgh and Ottawa, but it could be that Bobrovsky’s final game with the Panthers in Sunrise came last Thursday against the Bruins . And it was a beaut of a game.
Bobrovsky has said he wants to return to the Panthers, wants to come in next season to try and not only get Florida back into the playoffs but to make yet another run at the Stanley Cup. Florida general manager Bill Zito has also said he would like to keep Bobrovsky here. So, too, do his teammates.
“There is no other goalie we want to play in front of,’’ Matthew Tkachuk said after the trade deadline passed. “He is the backbone, the biggest reason why we have two Stanley Cup rings. He is one of the biggest reasons why this organization is where it is at.
Yeah, no other guy we want to play in front of right now. ’’ Said Sam Reinhart after a 30-save game against Columbus: “We know he’s capable in there and we believe he has plenty left in the tank. Performances like that gives us belief.