Florida Panthers
· 2026-07-01
The Florida Panthers traded for goaltender Jacob Markstrom, acquiring him from the New Jersey Devils in a deal that includes winger Angus Crookshank.
The Panthers sent Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and the rights to pending restricted free agent Ben Steeves to the Devils.
The team is currently on a W3 streak with a 40-38 record, standing 14th in the Eastern Conference as of July 1, 2026.
Jacob Markstrom, 36, returns to Florida, where he started his NHL career, and is expected to compete alongside the established group.
Markstrom is beginning a two-year contract at an annual salary cap hit of $6 million.
The Panthers shed Evan Rodrigues' salary of just over $3 million after getting Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa to play with brother Matthew.
The team's general manager, Bill Zito, said Markstrom is an established veteran leader who possesses size and a relentless drive to win.
And with Markstrom's acquisition, the Panthers have strengthened their goaltending position.
But the move also signals the end of Sergei Bobrovsky's storied run in South Florida.
So the Panthers will look to Markstrom to make an impact in the upcoming season.
The Devils, on the other hand, will likely go shopping for a tandem mate in free agency.
Markstrom played his first 43 games in the league with the Panthers during their down years.
He was one of the top prospects at the position after getting taken with the 34th pick in the 2008 draft.
The Panthers are excited for Markstrom to compete alongside their established group and return to South Florida.