The Florida Panthers had a busy summer, acquiring Brady Tkachuk and Garnet Hathaway before bringing back Radko Gudas and Jacob Markström. Ultimately, Bill Zito decided to pursue the 36-year-old goalie because, despite being linked to Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck, he had to pivot after not striking a deal. Fast forward a few months later, Hellebuyck has yet to play this season and was suspended for not reporting to camp. Meanwhile, Markström had a strong return with the Panthers, shutting out the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Opening Night.
However, since then, Markström has missed time, and his SV% numbers are below .900, a number many Florida fans hoped they wouldn’t see from the veteran, who was eager to play on a true contender. On Monday, Oct. 19, the Swedish netminder got hurt in practice and is now on the shelf for “10-14 days” with an undisclosed injury. Now, for the second time in just a matter of weeks, Akira Schmid is going to start more games than initially anticipated so early in the season, and on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators, he got shelled for five goals.
Considering the unfortunate situation the Panthers find themselves in, and with Hellebuyck's suspension reportedly ending Friday, it may be time for Zito to pick up the phone and inquire whether a trade with Winnipeg is possible.
Panthers need an elite goaltender to remain Stanley Cup contenders
On paper, the Panthers have one of the NHL’s most talented lineups, one destined for a deep playoff run in the spring. However, once future Hall of Famer Sergei Bobrovsky left via free agency, hockey experts across the industry wondered if Markström was going to be able to pick up the mantle the former two-time Stanley Cup champion left behind.
At 36, one year younger than Bobrovsky, Markström has never been to the Final, let alone the third round of the playoffs. Eager to prove himself with Florida on his second tour of duty, people wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Yet, early returns, including a 3-1-1 record, are not all that encouraging when we look at his .896 SV%, which ranks 31st in the league.
As exciting as his win-loss record is, signaling he can get the job done, it’s his ability to stay healthy that should be concerning not only for the Panthers fanbase, but also for the team’s coaching staff and front office. Paid as a No. 1 goalie, Markström should be in line to play the majority of his team’s games, but hasn’t come close to 50 games played in over three seasons, last surpassing the mark with the Calgary Flames in 2022-23, when he skated in 59 games, producing a modest 23-21-12 record.
Before departing the Flames, he missed some time with injuries, and his entire stint with the New Jersey Devils was littered with minor injuries. If the Panthers are banking on him to stay healthy for the entire season and then guide the team through four grueling rounds of playoff hockey, they may be asking too much of the veteran at this stage of his career.
Acquiring Connor Hellebuyck presents a complicated salary cap challenge
Considering how successful Florida has been this decade and how disliked many of their players are around the league, Zito will be hard-pressed to find another NHL general manager willing to help the Panthers get even better. Hellebuyck carries an $8.5 million cap hit, which won't fit on Florida's books with only $1.4 million in available cap space, according to CapWages.com. However, the Panthers have players they could move to create additional flexibility, and Winnipeg could potentially retain a portion of Hellebuyck's salary to facilitate a deal.
Of course, acquiring a former Vezina and Hart Trophy winner who recently won an Olympic gold medal alongside Matthew and Brady Tkachuk would require more than a simple phone call. Zito would likely need to move significant salary, prospects, or draft picks to make a blockbuster trade possible. With the NHL's restrictions on multiple salary-retention transactions, the Panthers couldn't simply rely on another team to absorb part of Hellebuyck's contract in a traditional three-team arrangement.
That's not to say Zito couldn't get creative. Perhaps he calls Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson to explore a separate transaction that creates additional cap space. With Connor Bedard leading a young team on the rise, Chicago could be interested in acquiring prospects or future draft capital in exchange for taking on another contract. Strange things have happened, and it's an avenue worth exploring. Zito could also contact Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy, a familiar trading partner of the Panthers.
Right now, the Flames are struggling to win games and are projected to finish near the bottom of the standings. As Calgary continues moving veterans in exchange for draft picks and younger players, perhaps there's an opportunity for the Panthers to clear salary while giving the Flames additional assets for their rebuild. Neither scenario guarantees Florida could afford Hellebuyck, but both demonstrate how Zito might approach the financial obstacles.
The bottom line is that the Panthers should welcome an opportunity to acquire Hellebuyck, and given his recent Olympic success alongside the Tkachuk brothers, there's an intriguing connection already in place. Most NHL front offices would move mountains to prevent such a transition, but it’s becoming clearer that a tandem of Markström and Schmid will not be the answer to championship success in June. The path to achieving a blockbuster beyond comprehension is not as crystal clear as other deals, but never say never when Zito picks up the phone.
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