It appears that the game of musical chairs the Florida Panthers have been playing the past couple of years when it comes to their goalie tandem has been settled — at least for the next two years.
On Friday, the Panthers avoided going to arbitration with new backup goalie Akira Schmid with the two sides agreeing to a two-year deal worth $2 million per season.
With the Schmid deal done, the Panthers have both of their goalies signed for the next two years: Jacob Markstrom, acquired by Florida in a deal with New Jersey about 12 hours after it traded with Vegas for Schmid, starts the two-year contract extension he signed with the Devils this season.
Schmid, 26, filed for arbitration a few days after being traded to the Panthers.
Florida avoided a arbitration hearing Aug. 1 in Toronto by agreeing to a new deal with Schmid.
The Panthers have had Sergei Bobrovsky as their starter since 2019 with a host of backups over those seven seasons.
Last year, Daniil Tarasov was the backup, but Florida went out and got Schmid two days before free agency started.
Tarasov started 31 games for the Panthers last season and landed in Detroit on a one-year, $2 million deal.
Florida’s other backups during the Bobrovsky Era include Chris Driedger, Alex Lyon, Jonas Johansson, Anthony Stolarz, Vitek Vanacek, and Spencer Knight.
Knight is now the starter in Chicago; Stolarz has been reunited with Bobrovsky in Toronto.
Schmid made 29 starts for the Knights last season, going 16-10-6 with a 2.59/.893.
With Bobrovsky and Tarasov, Florida had a shade over $11 million in goalies against the salary cap last season. This year, the Panthers will have $8 million.
ON DECK: FLORIDA PANTHERS OFFSEASON