Sports

Sasha Barkov: Sad to See Bobrovsky Go, Happy Florida Panthers Have Markstrom

Nairavoice · Sep 17, 2026 · 3 min read

FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers open training camp this morning at the Iceplex and, for the first time since 2019, will do so with a goalie other than Sergei Bobrovsky scheduled to start their season opener.

Bobrovsky, of course, helped the Panthers win the Stanley Cup championship in 2024 and 2025.

He was as big a part of the recent success of the Panthers as anyone.

And, as captain Sasha Barkov says, Bobrovsky will be missed.

“I don’t need to tell you guys how great of a person, how great of a teammate, a player, a goalie, he was for us, this organization, and community,” Barkov said on Wednesday.

“He did so much, literally, for everyone here and everyone loved him. It’s very sad to see him go. Of course, it’s part of this business sometimes. I only have good things to say about him.”

Florida’s new starting goalie is no stranger to the Panthers.

A day before free agency opened, the Panthers made a big trade with the New Jersey Devils and brought Jacob Markstrom back to South Florida.

Markstrom was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2008 draft in Ottawa and, up until the day he was part of the trade for Roberto Luongoin 2014, was considered Florida’s future starter.

A lot has certainly changed around the Panthers since Markstrom was here although some things remain the same.

First, Barkov is still here. So, too, is Dmitry Kulikov and goalie coach Robb Tallas.

The team also still plays its games in Sunrise.

That’s about it.

Markstrom, however, said after the trade that he could not wait to get back.

Oh, Luongo is also one of the driving forces for getting him back to the Panthers since he is, after all, in charge of Florida’s goaltending department.

“I had great conversations with Bill Zito, Lu, Robb Tallas,” Markstrom said in July.

“It gets your blood pumping a little bit. It’s a special feeling to be back in Florida, you know, where I was drafted.”

Barkov only spent part of one season playing with Markstrom before the big deal that brought Luongo back to the Panthers before the 2014 trade deadline.

It was Barkov’s first NHL season after being the second pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, but he injured a knee playing for Finland at the Sochi Olympics ending his campaign early.

The two were pals.

During Barkov’s first weeks in Florida after coming over from Finland in 2013, Markstrom did Barkov a solid and loaned him his car so the 17-year-old could get his Florida’s driver’s license.

“I don’t have a car but I have the license,” Barkov said just as his first training camp was starting 13 years ago.

“I like it here in Florida. It’s nice. It’s a place I’m going to enjoy living in. Everyone is nice, I have a lot of friends already. They’ve helped me very much.”

Barkov has told that story a couple of times since, and brought it up again Wednesday when asked about Markstrom being Florida’s new starter.

Again, Barkov is sad his friend Bobrovsky is gone, but happy Markstrom is back.

“I got to get my driver’s license in his car,” Barkov said. “I remember that, I hope he does, too. We had some fun moments that first season when he was here. I think he’s an unbelievable goalie. A big goalie, too. He covers a lot of ice, competes a lot.”