The Florida Panthers have addressed a glaring hole between the pipes, acquiring veteran netminder Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils in a five-player deal, the teams announced.
The Panthers are receiving Markstrom and minor-leaguer Angus Crookshank in exchange for forwards Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves.
The acquisitions of Markstrom and Akira Schmid on back-to-back days almost certainly spell the end of Sergei Bobrovsky's tenure with the Panthers. Bobrovsky, who won two Stanley Cups in Florida, is a pending unrestricted free agent.
Markstrom struggled in 2025-26, posting an .883 save percentage in 44 games. He was effective the year prior, though, registering a .900 save percentage and 7.8 goals saved above expected in 49 appearances, per Evolving-Hockey.
The 36-year-old is set to enter the first season of a two-year contract that carries a $6-million average annual value. There's no salary retention involved in the trade.
The Panthers drafted Markstrom 31st overall in 2008. He spent parts of four seasons in Florida before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks as part of a deal that brought back Hall of Famer Roberto Luongo.
Markstrom, who also played four seasons with the Calgary Flames, owns a lifetime .907 save percentage in 578 NHL games. He's posted a 14-17 postseason record with a .911 save percentage and a 2.88 goals-against average. In Calgary, he was named the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy runner-up.
Rodrigues ($3.075-million cap hit) and Boqvist ($1.5-million cap hit) are both entering the final seasons of their contracts.
A two-time Cup winner with the Panthers, Rodrigues projects to fill a middle-six role with the Devils. The 32-year-old winger notched 31 points in 69 games last season.
Boqvist was a part of Florida's 2025 Cup-winning team. He'll likely fill a bottom-six role in New Jersey next season after producing 13 points in 73 games in 2025-26. He spent the first four seasons of his NHL career with the Devils.
New Jersey's new general manager, Sunny Mehta, is familiar with both Rodrigues and Boqvist after working in Florida's front office the last six years.
