Sergei Bobrovsky is done in Florida. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs after a no-trade standoff with the Panthers.
The breakdown, reported Thursday by insider Daria Tuboltseva, comes down to one clause. That single detail cost Florida its franchise goaltender.
Bobrovsky was reportedly fine taking a pay cut to $6 million and just two years of term to stay in South Florida.
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So how does a team lose a veteran starting goaltender over paperwork? Panthers GM Bill Zito would only offer a partial no-trade clause.
Toronto didn't blink. The Maple Leafs topped Florida's money and term, then added the full no-movement clause that closed the deal.
Bobrovsky posted a .876 save percentage and 20 wins across 52 games last season, numbers that will get scrutinized in a new city.
Toronto's crease just got crowded, and complicated
Anthony Stolarz posted a stronger .893 save percentage in 26 games for Toronto last season, and he isn't going anywhere.
That leaves head coach Jim Hiller with a real decision to make between two legitimate NHL starters heading into camp.
Florida finished last season 40-38-4, good for 84 points, while Toronto finished 32-36-14 with 78 points and clear work ahead.
The two clubs split their season series, with Toronto winning the early meetings before Florida answered with a 6-2 win in April.
Letting a franchise goaltender walk over a partial no-trade clause is like losing a house sale over paint color. Zito's process failed here.
Florida's crease now runs through Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid, and neither has Bobrovsky's playoff resume behind him.
Bobrovsky is 37 and chasing one more deep run, this time wearing blue and white. Toronto's goaltending picture just got a lot more interesting.
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Did Bill Zito blow it by refusing Sergei Bobrovsky a full no-trade clause?
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