The Florida Panthers and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky reportedly were unable to come to an agreement on a contract due to a dispute over the inclusion of a no-trade clause, Daria Tuboltseva of RG Media reports.
Plenty of reports have been shared throughout the off-season pertaining to the Florida Panthers and Sergei Bobrovsky.
Some indicated that the two parties were never close to a deal. Others mentioned that Bobrovsky was seeking a max-term deal. GM Bill Zito mentioned just days prior to the Jacob Markstrom trade that the doors weren't closed.
Ultimately, the Panthers traded for Markstrom and Akira Schmid. At the same time, Bobrovsky remains in the Atlantic Division, joining former teammate Anthony Stolarz and fellow countryman Artur Akhtyamov with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The latest news comes from Daria Tuboltseva of RG Media, who reports that the Panthers had a $12 million contract on the table for Bobrovsky, but a dispute over the inclusion of a no-trade clause prevented a deal from being agreed to.
Tuboltseva first mentioned that Bobrovsky hoped to remain with the Panthers until the last moment, which was likely just before the Panthers pulled the trigger on the Markstrom deal.
The Panthers first reportedly offered Bobrovsky a one-year, $4 million contract, and later upgraded their offer to two years at $6 million per year, identical to the contract they are paying Markstrom.
Bobrovsky was set to accept the deal but wanted a no-trade clause, an element the Panthers were unwilling to include. With the disagreement, the Maple Leafs and GM John Chayka jumped on their opportunity, handing the 37-year-old a three-year, $7 million AAV contract that includes a full no-movement clause for all three seasons.
In the end, the Panthers will be without Bobrovsky for the first time in seven seasons. In his Panthers tenure, Bobrovsky backstopped the Panthers to three Stanley Cup Final appearances, two of which resulted in wins. He was a workhorse for the Panthers, recording a save percentage above .900 in all but one season.
With Bobrovsky, the Panthers made the post-season six times.
The Panthers now put their trust in Markstrom, who had a difficult time with the New Jersey Devils, but are banking on his strong resume and organizational familiarity.
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