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Momentum Building Toward Sergei Bobrovsky to the Montreal Canadiens?

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jackson Weber | Last updated Feb 28, 2026 2:10 PM ET

Trade rumors around Sergei Bobrovsky began as just noise—a long shot for anything to actually happen. Nobody thought the Florida Panthers would seriously consider moving their two-time Vezina, two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender, at least until the last week or so.

With reports suggesting that Bobrovsky and the Panthers aren’t close on a new contract, speculation has grown around the possibility that GM Bill Zito might, in fact, trade him as a rental before the March 6 deadline. Several landing spots have been mentioned, though the one that appears to be gaining the most traction is the Montreal Canadiens.

Goaltending has been Montreal’s Achilles heel this season, and TSN’s Craig Button was the latest to endorse the idea of GM Kent Hughes swinging to acquire the veteran netminder.

Button said:

“Montreal Canadiens. You look at the Montreal Canadiens this year—their goaltending hasn’t been strong enough. As recently as their last game versus the Islanders, Samuel Montembeault wasn’t good enough. So when I look at Sergei Bobrovsky’s resume, as recent as last June when he led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup—that’s the type of player who’s been there, done that, won that. The Montreal Canadiens could benefit from Sergei Bobrovsky,”

The 37-year-old Bobrovsky is a pending UFA in the seventh and final year of the seven-year, $70 contract he signed to join the Panthers as a free agent in 2019. He’s gone 22-17-1 in 40 starts for Florida this season, posting a 3.08 goals-against average, a .874 save percentage, and three shutouts along the way.

To make matters even more interesting, insider Pierre LeBrun said prior to Thursday’s game against Toronto that the reality is Bobrovsky could very well get traded if Zito decides to sell. He added that it will all come down to the next five games, where they would have to go 4-1 at worst to stay in contention.

While the Panthers beat the Maple Leafs that night, they lost in regulation to the Sabres on Friday, meaning the margin for error is gone. One more loss, and the Bobrovsky talk will ramp up to a whole other level—and there is no team more in need of a goalie, and better equipped to make a move, than the Canadiens.

Montreal is tight against the cap right now, but shedding Patrik Laine and possibly even Montembeault’s contracts, along with potential salary retention on Florida’s end, would solve that. Hughes has the draft picks and prospects to put together a strong enough package, so it would ultimately come down to Bobrovsky signing off on a move—which feels like the lone obstacle that could stand in the way of a deal should the Panthers throw in the towel on 2025-26.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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