The Florida Panthers have made a significant move to bolster their goaltending, acquiring Jacob Markstrom in a trade with the New Jersey Devils. This move comes on the heels of the Panthers acquiring goalie Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night.
Trade Details
The Panthers sent Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and the rights to pending restricted free agent Ben Steeves to the Devils in exchange for Markstrom and winger Angus Crookshank. Markstrom, 36, is beginning a two-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $6 million.
The acquisition of Markstrom likely signals the end of Sergei Bobrovsky’s time with the Panthers. Bobrovsky, 37, has been instrumental in the Panthers’ success, backstopping the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025, as well as another trip to the final in 2023.
Impact on the Team
According to Panthers general manager Bill Zito, “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.” The move is expected to strengthen the Panthers’ goaltending and provide a solid foundation for the team’s future success.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
