After the Florida Panthers added Brady Tkachuk and his $8.2 million salary to the books, the organization only has roughly $7 million in cap space to sign not only a No. 1 goalie, but a quality backup as well. Oh yeah, there are a couple of free agents in the lineup like A.J. Greer, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Donovan Sebrango, to name a few.
Meanwhile, franchise legend Sergei Bobrovsky, the goalie who backed the team to three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, is coming off a contract that paid him $10 million annually. At 38, it’s rumored that he’s seeking another expensive long-term deal, almost pushing his way out of Florida.
👀 ⏳ The @FlaPanthers have just 1 week until July 1st to re-sign their future @HockeyHallFame 🔒 and back 2 back Stanley Cup Champ G Bobrovsky. Per sources, sharks are circling, not the @SanJoseSharks but @BuffaloSabres @MapleLeafs @LAKings + others#HockeyX pic.twitter.com/EHl63kaKSm
— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) June 23, 2026
Even if the Panthers come to terms with the only netminder to guide them to a Stanley Cup, General Manager Bill Zito would have almost no money left to fill out the rest of his roster. So, if he can’t retain Bobrovsky or make another blockbuster trade, he’ll have to search the free agent market, where there are only 12 goalies available, since Carey Price is going into the Hall of Fame and Jonathan Quick just retired.
Today, we look at which goalies are available, based on their salaries.
Pheonix Copley - 34 ($775k)
Phoenix Copley has played only 10 games in the NHL since the 2022-23 season, instead spending most of the past two seasons in the AHL, compiling a 45-28-2 record. In the NHL, he’s 44-17-8 with a career .898 SV%.
Eric Comrie - 30 ($825k)
For the past two seasons, Eric Comrie has been Connor Hellebuyck’s backup, earning a 21-21-2 record with a .902 SV%. Professionally, Comrie’s record in the AHL is 94-95-34 and 45-47-4 in the NHL.
James Reimer - 38 ($850k)
Panthers fans are no strangers to James Reimer, who played several seasons in Florida already. At 38, he’s one of the oldest free-agent goalies available, and in a limited role with the Ottawa Senators last year, he went 7-4-2 compiling a .886 SV%.
David Rittich - 33 ($1 mil)
David Rittich has been a regular in the NHL since debuting in 2016, but was just 14-10-3 last season with the New York Islanders, earning a .894 SV%. After 260 games, he’s 122-81-29 with a 2.79 GAA and .903 SV%.
Matt Murray - 32 ($1 mil)
Matt Murray may be the only goalie available with multiple Stanley Cups on his resume, but the often-injured netminder has skated in only seven NHL games since 2022-23. Last year, with the Seattle Kraken, he was 0-2-1 with a .922 SV%. Since leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020, Murray has played only 80 games with a 30-36-6 record.
Daniil Tarasov - 27 ($1.05 mil)
Behind an injury-plagued lineup in Florida, Daniil Tarasov went 13-15-3 during his only season with the Panthers, earning a 3.05 GAA and .895 SV%. As one of the youngest goalies available, the chances for a reunion are high, but he might not be up to the task of a No. 1 goalie.
Vitek Vanecek - 30 ($1.5 mil)
Vitek Vanecek is another former Panthers goalie on the market. Last year with the playoff-bound Utah Mammoth, he had a 5-13-3 record with a 2.93 GAA and .883 SV%. Over seven seasons, his record is 101-69-24 in 210 games.
Connor Ingram - 29 ($1.95 mil)
Connor Ingram had a bounce-back year with the Edmonton Oilers in 2025-26, going 16-10-3, but posted only a .899 SV%. Interestingly, the Oilers haven’t committed to him, despite the need for a bona fide No. 1. He’s only 55-54-18 in 134 NHL games.
Cam Talbot - 38 ($2.5 mil)
Cam Talbot is another former Oilers netminder in the free agent market. Besides being one of the oldest in this year’s class, he’s also one of the most traveled, suiting up with eight teams over 13 seasons. For the past two years with the Detroit Red Wings, Talbot went 33-28-11 with a .894 SV%.
Stuart Skinner - 27 ($2.6 mil)
Florida fans are very familiar with Stuart Skinner, their opponent in the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Finals. Despite being the Oilers' top goalie for three seasons, they dealt him to the Penguins, where he went 12-9-5 with a .885 SV%. Since his best season in 2023-24, he’s only 49-35-13 with a .892 SV% and 2.86 GAA.
Frederik Andersen - 36 ($2.75 mil)
Frederik Andersen just won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes, going 16-14-5 in the regular season and 13-2 in the playoffs, sitting out Games 4, 5, and 6, letting Brandon Bussi lead the team to the championship. In 13 seasons, he’s 324-149-58, but hasn’t played in more than 35 games in four years. At 36, Andersen is one of the oldest free agents available.
Petr Mrazek - 34 ($4.2 mil)
Despite making $4.2 million last season with the Anaheim Ducks, Petr Mrazek secured a 3-5-0 record in only 10 games, with a career worst 4.07 GAA and .858 SV%. After 14 years and six teams, Mrazek is only 183-181-40 with a .905 SV%.
It will be fascinating to see who Zito taps as the Panthers' next goalie, whether it's through free agency or the trade market. The next man to step into the crease will face an enormous amount of pressure following in the steps of Bobrovsky, if he does indeed leave town.
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