The Panthers Next Move After Brady Tkachuk: Address Goaltending

He posted a 2.86 goals against average and a 0.895 save percentage, the SV% chalking up to the worst of his 11-year NHL career. After three consecutive seasons of 30+ goals saved above expected, he ended 2025-26 stopping -0.3, his worst in that category since 2016-17. All of this culminated in a 23-23-11 record in 57 games started for the Jets.

At the Jets’ end-of-season press conference, he had expressed that the Cup was the only milestone missing from his resume, which might not be attainable in Winnipeg. Plus, added seasoning from Chris Johnston of TSN, who said teams are calling based on his disappointment, signs could be pointing to Hellebuyck packing his bags away from the Jets, who ended with a 35-35-12 record, good for 7th in the Central Division after eight playoff appearances in the last ten seasons. In a year where he won a gold medal with the USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, a triumph that saw a dropoff from being a part of the league’s best team for the President’s Trophy just a year ago, and was three wins away from a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2018, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he’d want to be back in that window.

Low-risk change of scenery

If the Panthers want to stay within their cap space and not spend all the way up to $7MM, they’re going to have to get cute and maybe take a chance on a goalie with a lesser pedigree.

A few names have been circling the goalie trade market that Florida could consider dealing for. New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom could potentially be available out of the Devils, according to Kevin Weekes of NHL Network. The 31-year-old is entering a two-year, $12MM ($6MM AAV) deal and could use a change of scenery from a 3.07 goals-against average and .883 save percentage campaign in 44 games. Perhaps former 2019 Stanley Cup Champion Jordan Binnington, who enters the last year of a six-year, $6MM AAV contract at age 32 with the Blues, would suffice for the regular season and shine in the big moments of playoff hockey. How about a gamble with the Red Wings on 23-year-old Sebastian Cossa? Despite a late-season fall-off in the AHL, he could present as a low-risk, high-reward pickup considering his status as a former first-round pick from 2021.

Free Agency

If all comes to pass, GM Bill Zito could always just sign a free agent he sees fit for the team. This is also where you could find a budget baller in between your pipes for this season and beyond.

Maybe 27-year-old Stuart Skinner wants to be a cup-contending goalie again. The former Oilers goaltender lost twice to Florida in the finals, but if you can’t beat them, why not join them? If that doesn’t come to pass, Frederik Andersen might want to stay in the warmth of the American southeast. If the reigning Cup champs in Carolina don’t have him back, Florida would enjoy his services of a .910 save percentage and 1.89 goals-against average in 16 playoff games, replicated if possible. That’s just two of 14 goaltenders available, where none aside from former Panther Bobrovsky, made above $5MM last season; those guys would ideally consider Sunrise as a great destination if the Panthers were to call.

Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images