Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Sergei Bobrovsky is exactly the type of elite goaltender head coach Martin St. Louis desperately needs to solidify this roster for a deep playoff run.
The Montreal Canadiens are looking like serious Stanley Cup contenders for the first time in years. They boast an explosive transition game and a young, dynamic core.
But there's one glaring issue that threatens to ruin everything this spring. Their goaltending has been incredibly shaky, routinely bleeding weak goals at the worst possible times.
The Florida Panthers are officially listening to trade calls regarding their pending unrestricted free agent. Acquiring the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion would completely stabilize the crease.
Over his NHL career, Bobrovsky has built an ironclad reputation for stealing games single-handedly. He dominates the blue paint and leaves opposing shooters held scoreless during intense third-period stretches.
Bringing his massive $10 million cap hit north of the border requires some very complicated math. Montreal executives will have to shed significant salary to make the numbers work before Friday's deadline.
The Heavy Price Of Contending
General manager Kent Hughes must be willing to sacrifice a few bloated contracts to secure the veteran superstar.
Shipping out Josh Anderson and his hefty $5.5 million cap hit is the most logical starting point for any serious negotiation.
Anderson provides a solid physical presence on the forecheck, but his offensive output has completely flatlined over the last three weeks.
Packaging him with another mid-tier salary or a young forward creates the necessary financial flexibility to finalize the blockbuster transaction.
The Panthers get a bruising winger to assist their own title defense while clearing their books of a massive goaltending investment.
It's a heavy price to pay, but elite goaltending is absolutely non-negotiable in the postseason. You need solid execution from the back end to survive a grinding seven-game series.
If the Canadiens want to legitimately chase their 25th championship banner, adding Bobrovsky is the only real option on the table.
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Florida Panthers list several players on the trade block moments before deadline day
Florida Panthers list several players on the trade block moments before deadline day