Despite the NHL Draft dominating the headlines on Friday and Saturday, there were still a handful of trades that took place between picks, featuring teams like the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Colorado Avalanche,to name a few.
Meanwhile, rumors involving superstars like Jason Robertson, Connor Hellebuyck, and James Werenski also made headlines. As we approach free agency on July 1, all three players will find their names in the mix as the rest of the league throws contract offers to free agents not quite at their level.
One of the top free agents is Sergei Bobrovsky, who has spent the past seven seasons with the Florida Panthers. However, if the current rumors, including those by The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, are true, Bobrovsky is not coming back.
David Pagnotta: It looks like Sergei Bobrovsky is gonna be leaving for free agency - NHL Tonight (6/26)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 29, 2026
If General Manager Bill Zito can’t strike an 11th-hour deal with the only netminder to lead the franchise to a Stanley Cup title, it appears that the Toronto Maple Leafs are more than willing to give him the salary and term he seeks.
The soon-to-be 38-year-old is one of the more decorated netminders of his era with two Vezina Trophies and two championship rings. Early rumors indicated that Bobrovsky wants another six-year deal valued at around $42 million. If he managed to secure that type of deal, he’d be on a team’s books until he’s 44.
Hours before the draft, NHL Insiders share that Bobrovsky wanted the same kind of deal with the Panthers that Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad received. Quickly, fans on social media pointed out that each one took a pay cut to stay in Florida and allow the team to build a contender with the savings from their deals.
Yet, as he approaches the final contract of his Hall of Fame-worthy career, Bobrovsky seems set on the dollar amount to secure his future. It seems very interesting that he’s prioritizing more money instead of remaining on a Stanley Cup contender, considering he’s made over $112 million throughout his career.
Considering the hockey world is just 48 hours away from free agency, many NHL Insiders think that the Maple Leafs are in a position to meet Bobrovsky’s contract demands. However, it would create a logjam of goalies in Toronto, since they already have Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby under contract, with Hildeby recently winning the Calder Cup.
At the moment, the Maple Leafs do have $22 million in cap space, giving them plenty of flexibility to make a splash in free agency. If they do make a pitch to Bobrovsky and he agrees to the deal, it will mark the end of an era in Florida. In addition, it leaves the Panthers without a bona-fida number one goalie for the first time in almost a decade.
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