Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna took in another inbox question on today’s Daily Faceoff Show, inquiring about the recent reports from Nick Kypreos that the Florida Panthers are trying to trade goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. He has four years left on his contract with a $10 million cap hit, how realistic is it that he gets moved?
Mike McKenna: “I don’t think so. The hardest part, you got $12 million in real money staring at you this year, and then the next year, it’s another $5 and $5. It does get a little bit less after that.
First, you have to find somebody who wants him and believes in him, because Sergei Bobrovsky has a full no-move clause. And he’s not going to just go to the Coyotes or the Senators or anywhere else, he’s going to want to go to a team that can win a Stanley Cup. That’s part of the reason why he wants to be in Florida in the first place.
He won a lot of games this year, but I also don’t think he really differentiated himself enough in the playoffs to sell him as a Stanley Cup-winning goaltender. There’s always been those playoff questions. So it’s the money, it’s still the four years of term, and it’s the fact that he’s got a lot of control. I just don’t see it happening.”
Frank Seravalli: “Would you consider trading Spencer Knight?”
Mike McKenna: “No, no, no, no, no. Teams win with goaltenders that are in-house. If the Florida Panthers are going to win a Stanley Cup, I would even go so far as to suggest that Spencer Knight will be the goalie that will carry them there one day.”
Frank Seravalli: “I agree with you, and I also think it’ll be really difficult for the Panthers to move Bobrovsky, even if they’re retaining half. It’s not so much the money, it’s the term that’s the issue.
So they’ve got a lot of really tough decisions to make, starting with their next head coach. They’ve got a new contract that’s needed for Jonathan Huberdeau, and an extension, and some other guys that they need to move out as cap casualties. Big summer ahead for Bill Zito to get the Presidents’ Trophy winners back on track for next season.”
You can watch the full episode here…
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