One of the biggest surprises of NHL free agency came when Sergei Bobrovsky left the Florida Panthers to sign a three-year, $21 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The move sends a two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender to one of Florida’s biggest rivals. While Florida moved quickly to fill that hole between the pipes, Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk has since shared his thoughts on losing the veteran netminder.
Matthew Tkachuk Reacts to Sergei Bobrovsky’s Move to Maple Leafs
Although the Panthers chose to move forward by acquiring Jacob Markstrom, Tkachuk made it clear just how much Bobrovsky meant to the team.
Speaking on his Wingmen podcast, Tkachuk said: “I mean, the backbone… We wouldn’t have won without him. He was the guy that you relied on, the guy that didn’t matter how good or if you’re playing bad, he was going to be great and just kept us in so many games that we didn’t deserve to be and won us a lot of games that we did not deserve to win.
“Just an outstanding, outstanding teammate. Works his absolute [expletive] off in the gym, on the ice. I’m going to miss him a ton. Just an unbelievable guy. Toronto got a good one. Just one of my favorite teammates ever,” he added.
Tkachuk’s comments highlight how important Bobrovsky was to Florida’s success. Beyond his play in net, he was viewed as a leader and one of the team’s most respected veterans.
For Toronto, adding a goalie with Bobrovsky’s championship experience could be exactly what the franchise has been searching for after years of playoff disappointments.
Still, there are questions surrounding the move.
Bobrovsky is coming off the toughest regular season of his career, posting a .877 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average in 52 games. Those struggles played a minor role in Florida’s decision to acquire Jacob Markstrom and move in a new direction.
The Maple Leafs, however, believe they can put Bobrovsky in a better position to succeed. The team also added defenseman Darren Raddysh and forward Nick Paul this offseason, hoping to build a stronger defensive structure in front of their new goaltender.
New general manager John Chayka is confident Bobrovsky still has plenty left in the tank.
“He’s shown durability. We think he’s really motivated to come into the largest hockey market in the world, and it’s important to him that he finishes his career strong. And we think that that’s a common goal that we can both get around,” Chayka said.
On paper, Sergei Bobrovsky gives the Maple Leafs something they’ve been missing: a proven Stanley Cup-winning goalie who has succeeded in big playoff games.
The big question is whether he can bounce back from last season and return to his best form.
