Panthers Bolster Goaltending with Markstrom Acquisition
The Florida Panthers have completed a trade with the New Jersey Devils, acquiring goaltender Jacob Markstrom and winger Angus Crookshank. In return, the Devils received forward Evan Rodrigues, forward Jesper Boqvist, and the rights to restricted free agent Ben Steeves. This move marks the second goaltender acquisition for the Panthers in as many days, following their trade for Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night for a 2028 third-round pick.
Panthers general manager Bill Zito commented on the acquisition, stating that Markstrom is an established veteran leader in the league, known for his size and relentless drive to win. Zito expressed excitement for Markstrom to compete alongside the existing group and return to South Florida.
Markstrom, who is 36 years old, is beginning a two-year contract with an annual salary cap hit of $6 million. This contract was originally signed by former Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald in October, who departed the organization in April. The Devils will not retain any of Markstrom’s salary as part of the trade agreement.
Impact on Both Teams’ Rosters
For the Panthers, the acquisition of Markstrom and Schmid appears to signal the potential end of Sergei Bobrovsky’s tenure with the team. Bobrovsky, 37, was instrumental in the Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025, and also contributed to their appearance in the final in 2023. With Markstrom and Schmid forming a new goaltending tandem, Bobrovsky is expected to enter free agency when the market opens on Wednesday.
Markstrom was a second-round pick by the Panthers in 2008 and played 43 games for the club before being traded to Vancouver. He is coming off a season with the Devils where he posted a 23-19-1 record with an .883 save percentage, his lowest since the 2014-15 season. His career save percentage stands at .907. Despite a challenging recent season, Markstrom had a .911 save percentage in the postseason when the Devils made the playoffs in 2025, though they lost in five games to Carolina.
The Devils’ new general manager, Sunny Mehta, was an assistant general manager with Florida before joining New Jersey this summer, giving him familiarity with Rodrigues and Boqvist. Rodrigues, who will turn 33 on July 28, is a versatile forward who was a key contributor to the Panthers’ Stanley Cup-winning teams. He has recorded at least 11 goals and 31 points in each of the past four seasons, including three with Florida and one with Colorado. He averaged 0.47 points per game, which translates to 38.5 points over 82 games, and is expected to boost New Jersey’s top-nine forward group.
Boqvist, a bottom-six forward, scored four goals in 73 games for the Panthers during the 2025-26 season. He was originally drafted by the Devils in 2017 and was part of Florida’s 2025 Cup team as a fourth-liner, accumulating 36 points in 151 games over his last two seasons with the Panthers. Steeves, 24, spent the past two full seasons with AHL Charlotte, where he recorded 45 points and 100 penalty minutes in 72 games last season. Crookshank, acquired by the Panthers, similarly played in the minors, notching 24 goals in 60 games for AHL Utica.
Goaltending Outlook and Future Moves
The trade for Markstrom, despite his recent performance, represents a strategic move for the Panthers. While Markstrom’s .883 save percentage last season and -11.37 goals saved above expected ranked 82nd in the league, the Panthers anticipate that playing behind a more defensively sound team could help him rebound. Schmid, 26, played a career-high 29 games for the Golden Knights due to injuries to other goaltenders, and is described as a stoic, positional goalie who excels with strong defensive support.
For the Devils, moving Markstrom allows them to shed a significant contract. With Jake Allen in net, who had a .903 save percentage in 2025-26, the team will likely seek another goaltender in free agency to serve as his tandem mate. Allen has not started more than 40 games since the 2022-23 season. New Jersey currently has $12.97 million in projected cap space, according to PuckPedia, which could facilitate further roster adjustments.
Mehta will need to assess whether Rodrigues sufficiently strengthens the top-nine forward group or if additional top-six options are needed. The Devils also possess draft capital from the Šimon Nemec trade, which could be utilized for potential future moves. In other league news, the St. Louis Blues placed winger Jonathan Drouin on unconditional waivers to buy out the final season of his contract, after acquiring him from the New York Islanders at the trade deadline as part of the return for Brayden Schenn.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
