Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The noise out of Florida is getting loud, and head coach Paul Maurice needs Sergei Bobrovsky to tune it out. The latest drama involves agent posturing.
Darren Dreger ignited a media firestorm on Monday regarding the veteran goaltender. He publicly called out Bobrovsky's representation for playing games through the press.
The insider believes this sudden trade chatter is nothing but a calculated bluff. The agent is simply trying to leverage a potential move into a lucrative contract extension.
Bobrovsky is riding out the final year of a massive deal carrying a $10 million cap hit. He turns 38 before next season and clearly expects another payday.
The problem is his play on the ice doesn't match the financial demands. He has thoroughly underperformed for the Panthers this season.
Sitting with an ugly .872 save percentage, he is actively hurting the team. Florida is bleeding points in the standings because they can't get a timely save.
His 3.13 goals-against average tells the same miserable story. He looks slow tracking pucks, and his rebound control is an absolute mess.
The Panthers Face a Franchise-Altering Choice
Florida management is backed into a serious corner ahead of the trade deadline. They are currently multiple games out of the playoff picture.
Do you cave to the agent's demands and extend an aging goalie who is clearly regressing? Giving Bobrovsky big money into his late thirties is a massive risk.
Or do you call the bluff and actively shop him to a desperate contender? Retaining half of his salary could easily entice a team looking for veteran depth.
Trading a guy who anchored back-to-back championship runs would send shockwaves through the locker room. But nostalgia doesn't win hockey games.
The Panthers need solid execution from the crease to survive the stretch run. Right now, they are getting the exact opposite on most nights.
Over his NHL career, Bobrovsky has bounced back from brutal slumps before. He won two Vezina Trophies by silencing his harshest critics.
But time is running out on this current campaign. Dreger exposing the agent's tactics just adds fuel to a burning fire in South Florida.
The front office must make a definitive call soon. The longer this contract distraction lingers, the faster the Panthers sink down the standings.
Also read on Sunrise Hockey Insider :
Massive update on Sergei Bobrovsky's future in Florida
Massive update on Sergei Bobrovsky's future in Florida