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Panthers Trade for Markstrom, End Bobrovsky Era

7/1/2026

Summary

Panthers Acquire Markstrom

The Florida Panthers acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom (on a two-year, $6 million AAV contract) and forward Angus Crookshank from the New Jersey Devils for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves.
The Devils will assume the $6 million cap hit, giving them $12,977,500 of space and leaving Florida $3 million under NHL’s $104 million cap for 2026-27.
This move signals the end of Sergei Bobrovsky’s tenure as he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Summary

Markstrom Olympic Glory

Markstrom posted a 2-1-0 record, .936 save percentage and 1.97 GAA for Sweden at the 2026 Olympics.
He won gold at the 2013 World Championship and bronze in 2010 and 2025.
In 2009-10 he led the SHL with five shutouts, a 2.01 GAA and .927 save percentage, earning Goalie of the Year.
He was a 2022 Vezina finalist with a .922 save percentage and league-leading nine shutouts for Calgary.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 December 6 trade that sent goaltender Patrick Roy from Montreal to Colorado—known as “Le Trade”—gave the Avalanche a star netminder who backstopped the team to the 1996 Stanley Cup. That landmark goalie swap set a template for franchise-changing moves, a pattern the Florida Panthers are echoing in 2026 by acquiring Jacob Markstrom and Angus Crookshank from the New Jersey Devils.

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Panthers Acquire Markstrom

The Florida Panthers acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom (on a two-year, $6 million AAV contract) and forward Angus Crookshank from the New Jersey Devils for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves.
The Devils will assume the $6 million cap hit, giving them $12,977,500 of space and leaving Florida $3 million under NHL’s $104 million cap for 2026-27.
This move signals the end of Sergei Bobrovsky’s tenure as he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

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