The Florida Panthers are acquiring goaltender Jacob Markstrom and winger Angus Crookshank from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves, as first reported by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.

The Devils will not be retaining any salary on Markstrom’s contract, meaning the Panthers will be on the books for the next two seasons paying Markstrom an average annual salary of $6 million.

Markstrom was once a Panther, playing 43 games with Florida from 2010 to 2014. Markstrom was originally a second-round pick of the Panthers. 

The 36-year-old was dealt to the New Jersey Devils two seasons ago, but never found his footing. In the most recent campaign, Markstrom posted an .883 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average in 44 games as the Devils missed the playoffs.

Crookshank is a 26-year-old AHL winger with 29 games of NHL experience. Throughout his career, he’s posted solid AHL numbers, scoring 185 points in 262 games. 

Heading the other way were two Panthers regulars, as well as an AHL forward.

Rodrigues, who will now be joining the fifth team of his NHL career, served as a valuable, versatile forward for the Panthers in their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins. His ability to play on the wing or up the middle, as well as in the bottom six or top six, will truly be missed.

GM Bill Zito has been vocal about his admiration for Rodrigues, but moving the 32-year-old forward was clearly a price to pay to make the money work.

Also included in this deal is Jesper Boqvist, who has filled a role similar to Rodrigues’, just not as effectively. Despite that, Boqvist played more than 70 games in both of his Panthers seasons. Boqvist was originally a second-round pick of the Devils and played four seasons with the organization.

Steeves led the Charlotte Checkers in points last season, notching 23 goals and 45 points in 72 games. Although he was never given the opportunity to play an NHL game with the Panthers, he was trending in the right direction and was recently tendered a qualifying offer, likely to facilitate this trade. 

The Panthers, following this trade, now have just under $4.5 million in salary cap space to sign Akira Schmid and make some depth moves. 

This is the first trade Zito and former Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta have conducted with one another. 

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