Hellebuyck’s trade list has yet to be disclosed, but there may be no need for it. According to most reports around the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres have been linked to Hellebuyck for a while. Maybe now is the time a deal actually gets done. However, the Sabres aren’t alone, and there will be other teams all over the 33-year-old netminder, who is under contract through the 2030-31 NHL season.

Carrying a more-than-reasonable $8.5 million cap hit and with a maximum total salary of $10 million in the next five seasons, there are no salary-cap concerns around Hellebuyck. However, most of the teams being linked to him may have to work some magic in order to land the Michigan native. When there’s a will, there’s a way, though, and some of Hellebuyck’s potential suitors have a history of making moves even amid a cap crunch.

Potential suitors for Hellebuyck

Buffalo is the favorite. It possesses the prospects, draft picks, and, most importantly, the cap space to land Hellebuyck. However, with the goalie holding the key to his exit, it may not come down to who has the best offer.

The Sabres saw their magical 2025-26 campaign come to a crushing end, in part because they could never firmly establish their starting goaltender. Hellebuyck would solve that, not only for next season but for five straight years, and perhaps even longer.

In addition to the Sabres, other teams who could be all over Hellebuyck include: the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Vegas Golden Knights. Let’s take a closer look at each of these Stanley Cup contenders, and why they could be Hellebuyck’s next destination.

Panthers could add yet another Infinity Stone

The Panthers have been favorites to land Hellebuyck ever since reports broke of the goalie’s frustration in Manitoba. What’s not to like about Florida? Playing for arguably the best team in the NHL when healthy, joining an undeniable Stanley Cup contender, reuniting with fellow Team USA teammates Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, and, to top it off, joining a franchise in a no-income-tax state.

From the Panthers’ standpoint, the main deterrent is that they just signed Jacob Markstrom to a two-year, $12 million contract ($6 million cap hit). They could always trade Markstrom to Winnipeg, but that would hinge on whether Markstrom hasn’t included the Jets on his 20-team no-trade list.

The Cats also have less than $35,000 available in cap space, which complicates a move for Hellebuyck. But that doesn’t feel like as big of an issue when they have Bill Zito working his craft behind the scenes. Adding Hellebuyck could be Florida’s best chance at replacing Sergei Bobrovsky and getting back to a Stanley Cup Final next year.

As for Hellebuyck, the Panthers may give him the best chance at winning a Stanley Cup in his NHL career while reuniting him with former head coach Paul Maurice. It just makes too much sense.

Hurricanes plus Hellebuyck: Back to back dream

In addition to the suspense around RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin, the reigning Stanley Cup champions face a large, unavoidable question in net. Frederik Andersen left for the Edmonton Oilers, and although Brandon Bussi proved he can hold his ground, the Hurricanes are missing a bona fide elite goaltender to cruise their way through the flagging Metropolitan Division and be firing on all cylinders by the time the postseason starts.

Carolina has roughly $9.8 million available in cap space, via PuckPedia, so that won’t prevent it from going after Hellebuyck. In Raleigh, Hellebuyck could reunite with fellow Team USA member Jaccob Slavin. That seems to be a trend among the gold medalists who asked out of their organizations after the national team provided them with the long-yearned-for feeling of being on a championship team.

Lastly, the Hurricanes own three of their next four first-round picks in the NHL Draft, which could come in handy in negotiations with the Jets. Entering a new season, no team is more favored to win than the reigning champs, and judging by the fact that there have been two back-to-back champions since the turn of the decade, if Hellebuyck wants to win now, Carolina might be his safest bet.

Hellebuyck can become a Golden Knight

Falling just short of the Stanley Cup last season, Vegas isn’t going anywhere. Bruce Cassidy and John Tortorella are gone, Ryan Craig is now in charge, but these are still the same old Golden Knights. If there’s a big name out there making himself available, best believe they will be all over it—and especially a goaltender like Hellebuyck.

However, Vegas has a lot of hurdles in the way. The organization in Sin City is currently $8.6 million over the salary cap, but it could always gain some ground by making timely long-term injured reserve (LTIR) decisions. The Knights could also clear some space by moving Adin Hill, maybe in exchange for Hellebuyck while giving up something more. Hill carries a $6.25 million cap hit. As long as Winnipeg’s name isn’t written on his 10-team no-trade list, the deal could happen.

The Golden Knights can’t trade either of their first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, as both have already been dealt on conditional terms. All in all, the Knights face a steep climb to make a trade for Hellebuyck, with battles on several fronts. However, if there’s one thing an organization named the Vegas Golden Knights will never back down from, it’s a fight and a gamble. Making a move for Hellebuyck provides both in perfect measure, so expect the Knights to be a player at this table.

The Cats, however, make a lot of sense as an NHL landing spot for Laine—even if it’s only on a professional tryout contract (PTO). It’s been reported that Laine and his camp have no wish to sign such an uncertain deal.

However, seeing how tough the market is out there and with no better offer guaranteed to come forward, it may be only a matter of time before Laine accepts such terms. That the Panthers will offer him such a deal, however, is far from certain, and a report states that nothing has actually happened between the two sides.

“There has been some speculation that Florida could make such an offer to Patrik Laine. That, as of right now, is simply just speculative,” George Richards reported on Florida Hockey Now.

Panthers could use someone like Laine

With Brad Marchand expected to miss time—how much exactly remains unknown—during the 2026-27 NHL season, the Panthers are staring at a glaring hole on their third line. Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen are two of the most underrated two-way forwards in the league, but could really use some scoring help. Provided he finds his footing, who better than Laine?

That’s not to say Florida expects the former Montreal Canadiens forward to score 44 goals like he did in his sophomore season (2017-18), but rather somewhere in between that career year and his recent 20-goal season in 2024-25 with the Habs. In addition to the obvious need in the top nine for Florida, there is another link between Laine and the Panthers.

Maurice could reunite with Laine in South Florida

Head coach Paul Maurice was in charge in Winnipeg when the Jets drafted Laine second overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. With Maurice, Laine had the best seasons of his career. Under Maurice’s orders, Laine appeared in 306 games, scoring 140 goals and assisting on another 110 for a total of 250 points.

Laine would be in for a steep climb in Florida, but that would apply to any new destination. In Sunrise, he could reunite with the head coach who got the best out of him while joining forces with fellow Finns Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola. Not just that, but he could complete an all-Suomi line with Lundell and Luostarinen.

The ball is in Florida’s court now. It remains to be seen if they move beyond the rumor phase and go through with a deal, or if it all stays a case of what could’ve been—yet another in the long list in NHL history.

According to Nestor Quixtan from Heavy.com, the Panthers might have the ideal replacement to Marchand in Laine, who is sitting around in free agency. Although there would be several questions to be addressed mostly regarding the contract term, Laine may have all the ingredients of the kind of player that thrives in Sunrise.

Doubted, mocked, called to an early retirement, yet fueled by it all. That’s been a recipe for success for the Panthers before. Under Bill Zito, the Cats have channeled the best from players many around the NHL had given up on. Laine could be the latest addition to that list, and why not? A new name engraved on the Stanley Cup by season’s end. Because if Florida can stay healthy, there aren’t many teams that can take them out in a best-of-seven playoff series.

Contract concerns for Laine and Panthers

For Laine, however, it would also be a matter of being offered a contract worth his while. Where exactly that line is, though, remains unclear. Coming off a five-game season and facing concerns on several fronts—including injuries and his overall ability to produce consistently—Laine may not be able to ask for much. The Panthers, moreover, can’t hand out too much, either.

Aside from the Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dallas Stars, who are over the cap, the Panthers currently have the narrowest cap space, with a measly $34,000 available, according to PuckPedia. In order to strike a deal with Laine, the Cats would have to make a roster move and, even then, sign Laine to a bonus-laden, performance-based deal.

Whether Laine would accept such an uncertain contract remains the biggest question. As confident in himself as he might be, Laine is wise enough to know he’d much rather make guaranteed money than chase a potential fortune. Obviously, admitting that even he and his camp are wary of just how productive he may be would be a terrible look, so Laine won’t ever make that feeling public. But there’s reason to believe it’s an actual thought.

Would Laine be a good fit in Florida?

The Panthers know it might be unrealistic to expect Laine to return to his 40-goal form from back in 2017-18. At least not right away, but perhaps he can eventually and gradually grow into a more similar version of himself. Still, Florida won’t toss Laine into a top-six role, largely because they don’t have one up for grabs, either. Instead, the job vacancy is on the third-line wing, where Marchand played alongside Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.

The Panthers don’t know how long Marchand will be out, but it’s always best to prepare for the worst just in case. Laine would bring a very different style from Marchand, nowhere near as energetic or defensively committed, but he could compensate with depth scoring. He could also take a second power-play unit to the next level, granting the Cats a two-headed monster in the man advantage.

To Florida’s fortune, Lundell and Luostarinen can hold it down defensively well enough by themselves. There’s a reason they are mainstays on the penalty kill in Sunrise, and they could take on a little more of the dirty work to allow Laine some freedom to find open spaces in the offensive zone and set up shop. As long as Laine gets his scoring touch back and is available, there might be no problem with that strategy. That’s still a big if, though.

Florida need to fill Marchand’s void

Even at 38, Marchand is irreplaceable for the Cats. There’s no sugarcoating that fact. Still, Laine may be an intriguing option. A completely different one, at that, but one that Paul Maurice may be able to make work regardless.

The Panthers’ key to success, along with an excellent defensive system that grinds out opponents, has always been deeply rooted in their depth scoring and how the Lundell-Luostarinen-Marchand third line could operate in the Stanley Cup Final as efficiently as another team’s first unit.

With Marchand out, that strength will face headwinds. Laine, however, could be a great solution. Most importantly, an unexpected one that could take the league by surprise. Just when the rest of the NHL thinks they have the Panthers figured out, the latest back-to-back champions could pull a rabbit out of their hat.

Biggest question is contract-wise

If Florida can figure out a way around Laine’s financial and term demands and stay cap-compliant at the same time, it seems there would be no harm in giving the experiment a shot. Most likely, Laine will be after some kind of term and job security.

The Panthers, like virtually every team linked to Laine up until this point, may be wary of such a commitment. Florida will likely want to bring Laine in on a professional tryout contract (PTO) or a prove-it deal. Laine may have no appetite for that. Finding that sweet spot in between will be what makes or breaks this potential signing.

If there’s two things Zito has accustomed fans in Broward County to, it’s: winning and always finding a way to make roster-boosting moves. Those traits may also excite Laine, who is well overdue for some success at the NHL level and may be willing to loosen up his end of the rope just to join a Stanley Cup contender, arguably the biggest one in the league.

When Larkin requested a trade out of Detroit after the 2025-26 NHL campaign, he handed Steve Yzerman and the front office a three-team trade list, with reports suggesting a fourth candidate may have been added in the Dallas Stars. However, since then, Yzerman is no longer the Red Wings‘ general manager, and two teams have apparently taken themselves out of the sweepstakes.

According to a report from Michael Russo of The Athletic during an appearance on The Sheet with Jeff Marek podcast, the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights have no interest in Larkin. That would mean two of the three—or perhaps four—teams Larkin is willing to waive his NMC for aren’t asking him to do so.

Where Panthers, Golden Knights, and Wild stand

The Cats won two Stanley Cups in the last three seasons and made it to three of the last four Stanley Cup Finals. Moreover, the Panthers have their core locked up for the long term, and adding another top-six center in Larkin would be a luxury rather than a necessity.

As for the Golden Knights, they have made it to two of the past four Stanley Cup Finals and won it once. They have more than enough talent to be confident in what they currently put on the ice and may not want to go through the trouble of negotiating with Detroit and its steep asking price.

Minnesota, on the other hand, may have no choice but to go all in on Larkin. Lacking a true top center all these years, the Wild can’t let this chance go to waste, especially when a great candidate actively wants to join them. Whether the Wild could put together an appealing offer is another question.

The Wild are still lurking around Larkin

Larkin’s original three-team trade list included the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild. Months after asking Detroit to trade him before the new NHL season, only the latter are showing interest.

However, Minnesota understands nothing can happen until Detroit finds its new general manager. Reports suggest the Red Wings are ready to hire their new GM, but until that actually happens, no one will pick up the phone on the Wild’s calls.

“The Wild still have interest,” Russo, who covers the Wild, reported. “So, [the Wild] have got to see who the [Red Wings’] GM is, and then if the Wild can make some sort of trade.”

Quinn Hughes is Wild’s secret agent

Having close ties with Larkin, Quinn Hughes spends much of his summer skating and practicing with the Michigan native in Ann Arbor, where the U.S. National Team Development Program has its headquarters.

Both Hughes and Larkin are products of the program and became even closer friends while playing for Team USA at the Olympics. (Hughes missed the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 due to injury.)

“The Wild are still really holding out hope for Larkin,” Russo stated. “Obviously, [Hughes] has a lot of inside information because he skates with Larkin on a daily basis in Ann Arbor. He knows Larkin’s preference would be to go to Minnesota, Vegas or Florida. But Florida and Vegas right now don’t have interest in him.”

Hughes and Larkin could help each other

Maybe Hughes can help Larkin find his way to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Doing so would benefit the defenseman as well. Hughes has yet to sign an extension with the Wild, and there’s reason to believe he won’t put pen to paper unless he’s certain Minnesota is a contender for years to come.

The franchise finally landing a first-line center would go a long way. In more ways than one, Larkin and Hughes could help each other out, with the Wild being the biggest beneficiary.

According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, Larkin would be willing to waive his no-movement clause (NMC) for a trade to the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, or Vegas Golden Knights. Although the Red Wings will stand firm on their asking price for Larkin, the captain ultimately holds all the leverage. If Detroit won’t deal him to one of those three destinations, it can only sit him. Doing so causes more harm than good, though.

As for the Rangers, the reported trade list completely rains down on their parade. New York could have been a dark horse to trade for Larkin—they still can, but it seems highly unlikely. Larkin is asking out of Motor City because he wants to win and a move to Broadway would put those aspirations on hold for a while.

New York general manager Chris Drury and head coach Mike Sullivan, who were around Larkin on Team USA, would’ve hoped their national team connections could come in handy. Unfortunately, if they want to acquire Larkin, they won’t be able to cut any corners. And even that may not be enough.

Larkin favors Team USA connections

The fact that Larkin’s trade list features three organizations filled with Team USA teammates and executives only makes it a tougher pill to swallow for the Rangers. After all, those connections do play a role, just not to New York’s advantage. The overall struggles and concerns in Manhattan are too significant for Larkin to dismiss.

Moreover, leaving the Red Wings, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs by fewer than 10 points, for the Rangers, who finished last in the East, wouldn’t exactly be considered an upgrade for the Winged Wheel’s hometown captain. If Larkin is to leave the Wolverine State for the first time in his hockey career and life, he would surely want to go somewhere he won’t regret.

Team USA connections in Minnesota

As soon as Larkin’s trade request went public, the Wild emerged as the obvious frontrunners. Bill Guerin (Team USA’s GM during the 2026 Olympics) was expected to be all over it, and it’s clear he’s done just that.

Plus, Minnesota’s lineup features Larkin’s fellow American teammates Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, and Matt Boldy. Combine that with the fact that the Wild are the most top-six center-needy organization in the NHL and that it’s the main obstacle preventing them from becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, and the puzzle is complete.

Why Florida makes sense for Larkin

As for the Panthers, the fact they’ve been to three of the last four Stanley Cup Finals and have won back-to-back Stanley Cups should be enough to explain why any player would want to join the powerhouse in the beautiful, income tax-free Sunshine State.

From Larkin’s perspective, joining Bill Zito (Team USA assistant GM), Matthew Tkachuk, and a state-of-the-art roster built to win is just the cherry on top. Florida doesn’t really need another top center, but it seldom helps itself from going after NHL stars.

When in doubt, there’s always Vegas

Meanwhile, the Golden Knights continue to be the go-to franchise for players in search of fresh starts and immediate playoff success. The organization’s way of doing business leaves room for criticism, but the results speak for themselves.

Watching Mitch Marner become a Conn Smythe Trophy favorite less than a year after leaving another Original Six market might be enough to convince Larkin that Sin City is perfect for him. Plus, he’d get the chance to join Team USA friends Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin.

Eichel is another example of how leaving the team that drafted you and heading to the Entertainment Capital of the World can do wonders for a player’s career. They say the house always wins in Las Vegas, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for those that get to call T-Mobile Arena home.

Larkin is sending Detroit a message

Larkin’s trade list is very narrow. He sends a clear message to the Red Wings that way. Detroit may ask him to expand his list a bit to gain more room to maneuver and negotiate.

Larkin may indeed add a few more options, but the odds of the Rangers even making that director’s cut remain low. Still, if there’s one thing the Big Apple teaches its residents, it’s to shoot for the stars, and one has just become available in the 313.

“Yes, I think we all should be [embarrassed],” McLellan admitted, dropping a truth bomb in his final postgame availability of the season, via reporter Helene St. James. “Both teams came in with nothing on the line, and you could see the [Panthers’] championship pedigree. I’m going to compliment them, it runs through the organization. They played and it meant something to them.“

Hadn’t McLellan held back, he would’ve gone ballistic on the Red Wings. Detroit missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 10th straight season. The Red Wings now hold the longest active playoff drought in the NHL. What was once a promising-looking campaign ended with the Wings losing eight of their last 10 games of the season.

Red Wings spiraled out of control

Down the stretch, Detroit went 8–12–4 since the Olympic break, erasing all the progress and success it had enjoyed prior to the hiatus. Needless to say, McLellan was livid to see his team throw everything away.

What stung the most was the fact that they showed little to no urgency in their final games. Allowing eight goals against Florida‘s B-squad is a terrible note for Detroit to end the season on.

Florida played with AHL-filled squad

Conceding eight goals is never fun nor justified in the NHL. However, the fact that the Panthers played an alternative lineup—due to injuries depleting their roster—makes the Red Wings’ 8–1 defeat in Sunrise unfathomable.

Florida had 15 different skaters record points. Aside from Matthew Tkachuk and Eetu Luostarinen, none of the point-scorers had played in last season’s Stanley Cup Final. Thus, the Cats steamrolled the Red Wings with a squad that is nowhere near their standard.

This was a fluke year for Florida, but it will be back next season. The question is: will Detroit? Will McLellan make it through the summer in the Motor City? Or will he be the first casualty of the Detroit Spring?

“Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for high-sticking Pittsburgh’s Rickard Rakell,” as stated by the NHL‘s Department of Player Safety on its social media.

No further discipline has been announced, meaning Luostarinen won’t be suspended for his actions. Pittsburgh fans don’t love this decision, with many pointing to Evgeni Malkin’s five-game suspension for slashing exactly one month ago. However, the two penalties aren’t quite comparable.

Season over for Panthers

With five games left on the schedule, Florida is already eliminated from playoff contention. Thus, the Cats have decided to shut down several stars, like Brad Marchand, Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, and Sam Reinhart. Their lineup nowadays looks nothing like the one that hoisted the Stanley Cup back in June 2025.

With nothing left to play for and a depleted roster, the Panthers were rag-dolled by the Penguins in consecutive outings, suffering 9–4 and 5–2 losses during a back-to-back in the City of Bridges. Not being used to such blowouts, the Cats responded in retaliation. It all led to Luostarinen unleashing his frustration with a dangerous high stick against Rakell, for which the NHL has now lowered the hammer with a hefty sanction.

Panthers embrace ‘ethical’ tank

Essentially, the Cats are playing for positioning in the upcoming NHL Draft Lottery. Panthers fans weren’t aware that was even in play until it was revealed that the first-round pick sent to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Seth Jones–Spencer Knight trade was top-10 protected. That means that if the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions finish in the bottom 10 of the standings, they will keep their first-round pick in 2026 and instead send their 2027 pick to the Blackhawks.

Thus, missing the postseason after making it to the Stanley Cup Final three years in a row doesn’t have to be so painful for Florida. If the Panthers come away with a top selection—let alone win the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes—it might be worth giving up on the dream of the first three-peat in the NHL’s salary cap era.

“Florida Panthers forward, A.J. Greer has been suspended for three games for boarding Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary,” the NHL’s official statement read.

Greer had hit Zary near the back and neck area of his body as he was stumbling near the boards. The Flames’ centre was driven head-first into the wall because of the unsportsmanlike contact and is now listed day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Greer suspension history

With the confirmation of the three-game suspension for Greer, the veteran forward has now been assessed the second suspension of his NHL career. The first one had been during his time with the Boston Bruins. Back in the 2022-23 season, he was suspended one game for cross-checking Mike Hoffman of the Montreal Canadiens.

Fans react to suspension

Because Greer was scheduled for a video-call hearing with league officials, he couldn’t be handed a suspension longer than three games. Fans across the league expressed their disappointment with the Department of Player Safety’s decision, as many expected a much bigger punishment.

“Fire [head of the Dept. of Player Safety] George Parros. This is a joke,” an upset fan wrote on X. “Christmas comes early for Greer and the Panthers. Big shock,” another one stated.

Which games will Greer miss?

As he does the time on his three-game suspension, Greer will be sidelined for the following outings: March 24th vs Seattle Kraken, March 26th vs Minnesota Wild, and March 28th at New York Islanders.

Because the Cats play on back-to-back nights against the Isles and NY Rangers in The Big Apple, Greer may be sidelined for the latter game, as well. He may be back in the lineup when the Panthers return home to host the Ottawa Senators in Sunrise.

How much money will Greer forfeit due to suspension?

Because Greer has been suspended for three games without pay, he will be missing out on significant paychecks. As confirmed by the league, Greer will forfeit approximately $13,281. This is all under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and based on Greer’s average annual salary.

Greer is on the final season of his two-year, $1.7 million contract. Set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer (UFA), if the Panthers don’t re-sign him, he may have trouble finding a new team based on his recent reputation.

Despite the noise around the league, Bobrovsky ultimately was not moved, a sign that the Panthers intend to keep him for the near future as they continue pushing to remain among the top contenders in the Stanley Cup race. Now, attention has shifted from trade speculation to the possibility of a new contract.

According to a report from David Pagnotta, discussions between the Florida Panthers and Bobrovsky are expected to continue as both sides evaluate what a potential extension could look like. “Contract talks with Sergei Bobrovsky will also continue. He first asked for a long-term extension and I think the Panthers prefer a two or three-year deal.”

Will Sergei Bobrovsky leave the Florida Panthers?

No. Sergei Bobrovsky will not leave the Florida Panthers. Despite the rumors, the team’s front office decided to keep him, closing the door to any contender interested in a trade not only this season but also heading into the next one.

Sergei Bobrovsky and a contract extension with Panthers

The interesting part of the negotiations will undoubtedly be the length of the new contract. Bobrovsky is 37 years old and, despite his great talent, the Panthers do not seem willing to go for anything longer than two years.

NHL insider Kevin Weekes added fuel to the speculation when discussing Edmonton’s involvement to negotiate with the Florida Panthers and the player. “I’m told the Oilers and Bobrovsky’s camp have had some conversations.”

For Edmonton, exploring the market makes sense given their ongoing search for stability in net. Adding a veteran goaltender with Bobrovsky’s résumé would give the Oilers another experienced option and potentially strengthen their roster as they look to remain competitive in a difficult Western Conference. Connor McDavid needs help.

Oilers could comlplicate Canadiens trade for Sergei Bobrovsky

The Montreal Canadiens have been widely viewed as one of the more logical landing spots if Bobrovsky becomes available. However, the Oilers entering the picture could significantly complicate that scenario.

If the Oilers decide to pursue Bobrovsky more aggressively, they could create a bidding situation that raises the cost for any interested team, including Montreal. At the moment, it’s expected a high price set by the Florida Panthers.

With the trade market still developing, the situation remains fluid. What is clear, though, is that the Oilers and Canadiens may now find themselves competing for the same goalie if Bobrovsky ultimately becomes available. There’s not a lot of time left.

NHL insider Chris Johnston shared an intriguing update about the uncertainty surrounding Bobrovsky’s future. “Sergei Bobrovsky: Some people I really trust out there believe this guy is being traded; but, I can’t figure out where he’s going.”

The speculation comes at a crucial time in the season, with Stanley Cup contenders evaluating their options before the deadline. A move involving Bobrovsky would instantly reshape the goalie market and could have ripple effects across several teams hoping to make a push toward the playoffs.

Sergie Bobrovsky trade talk grows ahead of NHL deadline

Another notable perspective came from NHL insider Darren Dreger, who compared Sergei Bobrovsky’s situation with that of another frequently mentioned goalie on the trade market. “I think there’s a better chance Sergei Bobrovsky gets moved than Jordan Binnington, but, I got a note that puts the odds of Binnington traded to 50/50.”

That update suggests that teams searching for help in net could still have multiple options available before the deadline. While Binnington has also been connected to trade rumors, Dreger’s comment implies that Bobrovsky might actually be the more likely goalie to move in the current market.

With teams evaluating their rosters and looking for stability in goal, the situation remains fluid. If the Panthers ultimately decide to consider offers, Bobrovsky could become one of the most impactful names to watch as teams attempt to strengthen their chances for a deep playoff run.