The Florida Panthers are in a sticky situation two months into their 2022-23 season. They sit two points out of the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 20 points and a record of 9-8-2 behind the Pittsburgh Penguins with 21 points and the New York Rangers with 22 points. While the defense has not been doing the team any favors as of late, there may be a goaltending controversy in South Florida. That being that the young and upcoming goaltender in Spencer Knight may have taken the reigns as the new goalie number one for the Panthers.
Bobrovsky Struggles Once Again for Florida
The veteran goaltender in 34-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky has started to slump once again for the Cats. In 11 starts this season, he’s 4-5-1 with an abysmal .888 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.62 goals-against average (GAA). On Thursday night against the Dallas Stars, he was pulled after the first period after allowing four goals within that period and on Sunday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, he allowed four goals. As previously mentioned, the defense is also not doing their fair share with constant odd-man rushes, poor penalty killing and breakaways given up. But it is still reflected on the goalie’s stat line.
On the other hand, the young one in Knight has a .918 SV% and a 2.43 GAA, along with a 5-3-1 record, through nine games suited up. In addition, he currently has the only shutout this season with a 3-0 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 9. It isn’t a drastic improvement stats-wise. Still, considering he has more wins in less games played than Bobrovsky, he may have earned the starting role he was drafted for.
Bobrovsky Has Not Been the Goaltender He Was Signed to Be
Since signing a massive contract with then-general manager Dale Talon worth $10 million a year for seven years, Bobrovsky has not been the goalie he was signed to be. In his four years as a goaltender for Florida, he’s had a GAA higher than 2.50, with his lowest being 2.67 in 2021-22. During that same period, the highest save percentage he had came that same year with a .913 SV%.
This is shocking coming from a two-time Vezina-winning goaltender, who had as high as a .932 SV% and had as low as a 2.00 GAA during his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets. This includes nine shutouts in the season prior to his deal with the Panthers.
Assuming the Job Is Knight’s, How Will Bobrovsky Be Handled?
As stated earlier, Bob’s contract carries an annual average of $10 million a season. So it would not be easy to trade him, even if general manager Bill Zito was willing to retain some of his salary. Furthermore, a buyout is completely out of the question as doing so this offseason would cost the Panthers an extra $6.6 million per year for the next three years and add up to a grand total of more than $25 million in total dead cap over the course of six seasons.
Related: Panthers Seeing Great Return With the Addition of Colin White
Tallon may have put Florida in a tight bind. Granted, it was a great move on paper to try and fix the Cat’s goaltending situation after the goaltender at the time, Roberto Luongo retired. But it’s clear it did not turn out the way it should have.
What’s Next for Knight?
As stated by head coach Paul Maurice, Knight has already been given the nod for their matchup against the red-hot Boston Bruins. That shows he has confidence in the young goaltender despite the way the month has gone for Florida. But he needs to play his game and give him a good reason why he was named the starter tomorrow. If not, a goaltending controversy might be on the way for the Panthers, which may force Zito to make a move by the trade deadline.
