{"id":779000,"date":"2026-07-04T03:35:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T03:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/779000\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T03:35:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T03:35:09","slug":"bobrovsky-looks-back-fondly-on-time-with-panthers-and-looks-ahead-with-excitement-at-new-chapter-with-toronto-maple-leafs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/779000\/","title":{"rendered":"Bobrovsky looks back fondly on time with Panthers, and looks ahead with excitement at new chapter with Toronto Maple Leafs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first media session for Sergei Bobrovsky<\/a> as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> started with a question about why Toronto is a good fit. The goaltender spent most of his answer waxing poetic about his former team. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to use this opportunity to thank Florida Panthers<\/a> organization,\u201d Bobrovsky said in a Zoom call with reporters on Friday. \u201cIt\u2019s been amazing, amazing seven [years] for me. I want to thank everybody [in] the whole organization, Viola family, they welcomed me in the family. It\u2019s been great. We won two Cups. It\u2019s been amazing. The coaches, medical staff, everybody, obviously fans, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank them for all that time. We went through a lot. Obviously, my teammates, I love those guys. They\u2019ve been amazing to me and the memories that we built together, they will stay in my heart forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, why is Bobrovsky switching sides in an Atlantic Division rivalry? <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s a business,\u201d he said. \u201cThe organization decided to move a different direction, and that\u2019s pretty much it. I respect that. I got nothing against it, so that\u2019s hockey. They\u2019re responsible for their part, and I respect that. In my position, again, as I said, I just want to keep only the appreciation and thank [them] for everything, what they have done for me. It\u2019s been an amazing journey for me, and I can\u2019t thank them enough for everything [and] what they have done.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Panthers pulled off a trade with the New Jersey Devils<\/a> for 36-year-old goalie Jacob Markstrom<\/a> on the eve of free agency. Markstrom has two years left on his contract, which carries a $6-million average annual value. <\/p>\n

It was only after the Markstrom trade that Bobrovsky realized his run in Florida was truly done and he would need to find a new home. <\/p>\n

‘It’s a business’: Bobrovsky respects Panthers decision to ‘move in different direction’ Sergei Bobrovsky says he didn’t know he wasn’t going to re-sign in Florida until they made the move to acquire Jacob Markstrom the day before free agency began, He spoke about why he and the Panthers split, and why he chose Toronto as his new home. <\/p>\n

Bobrovsky, who will turn 38 in September, signed a three-year deal with the Leafs, which carries a $7 million average annual value. <\/p>\n

\u201cThings work out like how they work out and the Leafs put their trust in me, they put out their belief and they gave me good opportunity to join the historical legendary team and be part of this organization,\u201d the native of Novokuznetsk, Russia said. <\/p>\n

Bobrovsky is coming off, statistically, the worst season of his career. He posted an .877 save percentage and 3.07 goals-against average as the injury-plagued Panthers missed the playoffs. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a tough season for our organization,\u201d Bobrovsky said. \u201cWe had lots of injuries. Our captain [and top-line centre Aleksander Barkov<\/a>] went down right in the first practice. So that was kind of a starting point of all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

After three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final, the Panthers finally seemed to hit a wall. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not easy,\u201d Bobrovsky stressed. \u201cYou know, the NHL, it\u2019s a tough league … It was a tough season, but every season brings some challenges. You know that there is never going to be a point that you kind of [think], \u2018Alright, I know everything and I\u2019ve been through everything.\u2019 There is always a challenge. And, for me personally, I will be a student of this game for all my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bobrovsky\u2019s ability to embrace the grind is a big reason why he\u2019s won two Vezina Trophies and is destined for the Hall of Fame when he retires. <\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, if Florida has their full complement of weapons in the lineup all year long, life is a lot easier for [Bobrovsky],\u201d Leafs assistant general manager Ryan Hardy said during an appearance on TSN 1050\u2019s OverDrive show on Thursday. \u201cHis numbers probably look way more in line with what they were before. For us, it is just about evaluating his body of work, his mentality, his makeup, and knowing how he takes care of himself and approaches the game. It seemed like a worthwhile bet for us to make.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bobrovsky\u2019s durability is a big plus for the Leafs, who saw Joseph Woll<\/a> and Anthony Stolarz<\/a> both miss significant time during the past two seasons. Woll was traded earlier in the off-season while Stolarz, who has never played more than 34 games in any NHL season, is just starting a four-year contract. <\/p>\n

Bobrovsky has played at least 50 games in nine of the past 10 seasons, with the only exception being the COVID-shortened campaign in 2020-21. <\/p>\n

\u201cI love the game so much,\u201d Bobrovsky said. \u201cI love the game. I love everything about the game. So it\u2019s been a fun process for me. And, you know, as I go deeper, I love it even more.\u201d<\/p>\n

After starting his career with the small-market Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> and then playing in the non-traditional hockey market of Sunrise, Fla., Bobrovsky sounded energized by the opportunity to play under the spotlight in Toronto. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a blessing to be a hockey player and playing in the NHL and it\u2019s a blessing to join this team,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s the capital of hockey in my mind. Fans are excited [and] there\u2019s going to be a great atmosphere, and I\u2019m excited about that. It\u2019s a big responsibility and I\u2019m looking forward to help this team win.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a new team, but Bobrovsky will be familiar with his backup. Stolarz played with the Panthers during the 2023-24 season before signing with the Leafs. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s an easy-going guy,\u201d Bobrovsky said of the 32-year-old New Jersey native. \u201cIt\u2019s fun to be around him, to have some jokes and practices or some jokes outside of the practices. He\u2019s just a nice person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bobrovsky is also ready to mentor Toronto\u2019s goalie of the future, Artur Akhtyamov<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cI talked to him once briefly,\u201d Bobrovsky said of his 24-year-old countryman. \u201cHe seems like a bright guy, too. He\u2019s a nice guy. He\u2019s a big prospect, and I\u2019m excited to be part of his development.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘A big responsibility’: Bobrovsky embraces chance to bounce back in ‘capital of hockey’ Sergei Bobrovsky had a down season for the Panthers, posting a .877 save percentage as his team struggled with injuries and ultimately missed the playoffs. He spoke about what he learned from that experience, and how he’s ready to embrace the “big responsibility” that comes with playing in “the capital of hockey” in Toronto. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Bobrovsky wears No. 72, which is the same number first-overall pick Gavin McKenna wears. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe gave that number to me,\u201d Bobrovsky revealed. \u201cWe had a little chat last night. He\u2019s a bright guy. He\u2019s got really positive energy, and I\u2019m excited to watch him develop into the big superstar, honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n

McKenna had already told reporters on Thursday following the first practice at Leafs development camp that he will \u201cprobably not\u201d be wearing 72 next season. <\/p>\n

\u201cBob, he\u2019s won two Stanley Cups, if he wants that number he\u2019s going to get that number,\u201d McKenna said. <\/p>\n

The Penn State product, who was born in 2007, isn\u2019t sure what number he\u2019ll use. His other favourites, 27 and nine (two plus seven), are both retired by the Leafs. <\/p>\n

Bobrovsky appreciates ‘bright guy’ McKenna ceding No. 72: ‘He’s got really positive energy’ Gavin McKenna deferred to the veteran when asked if he or Sergei Bobrovsky would be wearing number 72 next season, and Sergei Bobrovsky says the McKenna made sure to let him know the number was his. He spoke about playing with McKenna, and reuniting with some of his former teammates in Anthony Stolarz and Steven Lorentz. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

McKenna signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s always been one of the best players, if not the best player, on the ice pretty consistently,\u201d said Guelph Storm centre Tyler Hopkins, who was Toronto\u2019s third-round pick last year and has played against McKenna while coming up in the Hockey Canada system. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty special to have him here with all of us and you see the stuff he can do with the puck.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hopkins noted that he is trying to learn from McKenna as much as possible. What\u2019s he got his eye on during development camp? <\/p>\n

\u201cJust the control that he has with the puck and [how he\u2019s] always making players go one way when he\u2019s going the other,\u201d Hopkins observed. \u201cHe\u2019s so deceptive with whether he\u2019s going to pass or shoot or whatever he\u2019s doing with the puck.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a busy stretch for McKenna, who was given a day off from media duties on Friday. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust a fun, easy-going guy,\u201d Kitchener Rangers defenceman Alexander Bilecki, who was a second-round pick by the Leafs last week, said of McKenna. \u201cI even talked with his parents about it, it\u2019s just so cool how he\u2019s calm and composed. There\u2019s a bunch a people coming up to him, kind of harping him or getting on him and saying, \u2018Gavin, can we get a picture?\u2019 And he\u2019s so just so easy, so cool about it and that\u2019s really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

—-<\/p>\n

Bilecki and McKenna attended the Portugal\/Croatia FIFA World Cup match on Thursday night in Toronto. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m rooming with Gav and we\u2019ve gotten pretty close,\u201d Bilecki said. \u201cWe created a bond and a couple nights ago he turned over and was like, \u2018Hey, Bils, do you want to go to the World Cup game?\u2019 And you know, me, I\u2019m kind of sitting there going, \u2018I mean, I wouldn\u2019t mind.\u2019 It was a great experience thanks to him. Great game and glad we were there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Were they getting noticed a lot by fans? <\/p>\n

\u201cMore Gav than me, for sure,\u201d Bilecki said with a smile. <\/p>\n

Cristiano Ronaldo scored on a penalty in the second half to tie the game and Portugal eventually won 2-1 to advance to the round-of-16. <\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up I was a Ronaldo fan,\u201d McKenna told TSN\u2019s Camila Gonzalez during an interview at Toronto Stadium. \u201cI was a big Real Madrid fan and always played the FIFA soccer games and stuff. Big fan of him, and I\u2019m cheering for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talked about it,\u201d Bilecki said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to tell our grandkids, \u2018Hey, we got to see Cristiano Ronaldo play and score a goal too.\u2019 It was cool to spend [the game] with him and see all that unfold.\u201d <\/p>\n

McKenna attends World Cup match in Toronto: ‘Growing up, I was a Ronaldo fan’ With the two legends Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo facing off in Toronto, Maple Leafs prospect Gavin McKenna was in attendance and he joined TSN’s Camila Gonzalez to chat about the match, the Leafs offseason additions, and more. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a busy week for the Leafs who signed Bobrovsky and made a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> to acquire forward Nick Paul<\/a>. General manager John Chayka also signed a series of forwards who will soak up some of the harder minutes next season and free up players like McKenna to get more offensive opportunities. <\/p>\n

\u201cSuper excited,\u201d McKenna told reporters on Thursday. \u201cYou can tell the mindset Chayka and the staff\u2019s got, they want to make a statement next year. And for me to come in as a first overall pick and be in that environment, to have these veteran guys around me and kind of not have to be that driver and learn from those guys, I\u2019m very lucky and fortunate and I can\u2019t wait to get going and meet all these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

McKenna ‘super excited’ by Leafs’ free agency moves as whirlwind week continues Gavin McKenna hasn’t had a lot of time to digest the whirlwind week he has had since being drafted by the Maple Leafs. The dynamic forward had a chance to put on the jersey during development camp on Thursday and he spoke about hitting the ice, his reaction to Toronto’s moves to kick off free agency and learning from the veterans on the team. <\/p>\n

Teddy Blueger<\/a> was among the new recruits, with the centre signing a two-year, $5 million deal with the Leafs. <\/p>\n

\u201cToronto seems to be kind of the centre of the hockey world,\u201d the 31-year-old from Latvia said. \u201cAnd just being part of an Original Six team, I know that all the guys that I\u2019m friends with that have played on them just say it\u2019s a little bit different, carries a little more weight and anytime you\u2019re even in the building and you look up at the rafters and all the retired numbers and all the history and [see] the weight of that. Also, people know how passionate the fans are and how much they care and I think it\u2019s great to be doing something that people care so much about and being a part of that. It\u2019s kind of a unique opportunity that you don\u2019t get most places.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leafs made Blueger ‘feel like you’re wanted’; hopes to reignite chemistry with Joshua The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Teddy Blueger to a two-year deal when the free agent frenzy started on July 1st, and he met with the media to chat about why he chose Toronto, his stylistic fit with the club, and reuniting with Dakota Joshua. <\/p>\n

Blueger noted that the Leafs pursued him aggressively, which made it an \u201ceasy choice\u201d to sign in Toronto. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou kind of go off of where you feel like you\u2019re wanted and where you think you could have a role,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Blueger is no stranger to playing in Canada, having spent the past three seasons in Vancouver. He experienced his greatest success with the Canucks when playing on a line with Dakota Joshua<\/a> and Connor Garland. He\u2019s excited by the prospect of reuniting with Joshua in Toronto. <\/p>\n

\u201cDak is a big, physical power forward who is great down low and great in front of the net,\u201d Blueger said. \u201cHe can score. He has a great skill set. I love playing with him. I am obviously hoping to get that chance again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blueger is also looking forward to more team success after the Canucks collapsed to last place in the entire NHL last season. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy biggest year of learning throughout the course of my career,\u201d Blueger said. <\/p>\n

What did he learn? <\/p>\n

\u201cJust about the importance of team cohesion, culture-type stuff,\u201d he said during a lengthy answer. \u201cWhat makes a team tick, what makes the guys come together and play at their best. I think the goal for any team is to kind of get to a point where you find this balance of guys caring about each other enough to where they\u2019re willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the team…<\/p>\n

\u201cStuff that I took for granted early in my career in Pittsburgh with [Sidney Crosby<\/a>] setting the tone is practice habits, discipline of showing up on time, being respectful to each other, to the trainers, to the staff, things like that, that I think seem like when you take each thing on its own, it seems like a small thing, but you add them all up, it creates an environment within the facility. That environment\u2019s huge, and it has to be positive and one where everyone can kind of be themselves and come to work every day excited and upbeat instead of, you know, down and kind of in a negative mindset. So that makes all the difference, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last-place season with Canucks taught Blueger importance of culture, cohesion The Vancouver Canucks had a tumultuous season last season that saw their captain traded, and a last-place finish. Teddy Blueger, formerly of those Canucks, now signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, reflects on the season that was and what he learned from the experience <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

As part of the roster overhaul this week, the Leafs traded winger Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2028 draft.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously mixed emotions,\u201d Robertson told TSN. \u201cFinally my time in Toronto came to an end, but I was just really excited when I got the call that I was going to Pittsburgh and really looking forward to my new chapter there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robertson requested a trade during the summer of 2024 before ultimately signing a one-year deal. He signed another one-year contract last summer.<\/p>\n

Trade rumours followed Robertson throughout his time in Toronto. So, did he see it coming on Wednesday when he was dealt shortly before the opening of free agency? <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it maybe would happen,\u201d the 24-year-old said from his family home in California. \u201cBut, again, I\u2019ve had trade rumours since maybe my foot stepped in the door in Toronto … It was 50-50. I wasn\u2019t, like, expecting it. But obviously there\u2019s always trade rumours, so it keeps you on your toes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robertson made his NHL debut in the 2020 bubble playoffs as an 18-year-old and scored in the playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a>, but struggled to carve out a consistent role with the Leafs over the years. <\/p>\n

As the team\u2019s top pick in the 2019 draft, Robertson got plenty of attention. <\/p>\n

\u201cI try to stay with it as best as possible, but it keeps you honest,\u201d he said of the pressure in Toronto. \u201cIt\u2019s hard at times, but playing in that market for the fans and everything, you wouldn\u2019t want anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robertson thanked the fans for their support and said he will \u201creally cherish\u201d his time in Toronto. <\/p>\n

‘Cherish my time in Toronto’: Robertson feels ‘mixed emotions’ around Leafs exit Nick Robertson heard his name in trade rumours “since maybe my foot stepped in the door in Toronto.” The winger, who was drafted in 2019, was finally dealt on Wednesday. “It’s hard at times, but playing in that market for the fans and everything, you wouldn’t want anything else.”\n <\/p>\n

But Robertson also made it clear he\u2019s excited for the larger role waiting for him with the Penguins and for a reunion with Kyle Dubas, who was the Leafs general manager when he was drafted. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a change of scenery for me, an opportunity that I\u2019ve been wanting,\u201d he said of Dubas\u2019 message. \u201cHe just knows me a lot, so he\u2019s pretty familiar with my game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robertson grew up idolizing Crosby, who shares the same agent. He received a welcome message from Crosby minutes after the deal got done. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was amazing,\u201d Robertson said with a big smile. \u201cI mean, I had his jersey hung in my room when I was a kid, so it was just surreal.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Penguin Robertson ready to grab bigger opportunity in reunion with Dubas New Penguin Nick Robertson is looking forward to sharing a dressing room with childhood idol Sidney Crosby. The 24-year-old winger is also excited to grab hold of a bigger opportunity as he reunites with Kyle Dubas, who was the Leafs GM when he was drafted.\n <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The Leafs will wrap up development camp with a scrimmage on Saturday. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The first media session for Sergei Bobrovsky as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs started with a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":779001,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[433],"tags":[712,49,48,448,82,74650],"class_list":["post-779000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-apple-news","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nhl","tag-sports","tag-toronto-maple-leafs-sports-hockey-team-team-nhl-api-10"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=779000"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779000\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/779001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=779000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=779000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=779000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}