Bobrovsky posted a .877 save percentage across 51 appearances during the 2025-26 regular season after winning two Stanley Cups and two Vezina Trophies.
Bobrovsky Commands Premium Despite Down Year
Bobrovsky finished 2025-26 at 27-23-1 with a 3.07 GAA while carrying a $10 million cap hit. The Florida Panthers advanced deep into the playoffs in prior seasons partly because his experience stabilized the net during extended injury stretches.
A four- or five-year offer between $6 million and $7 million annually represents the likely ceiling for the 37-year-old. Teams will weigh his two championships against the recent .877 save percentage that ranked below league average.
Carolina’s Eric Tulsky faces a parallel decision with Andersen, whose $2.75 million deal expires. Any extension beyond $4 million risks pushing the Hurricanes into harder cap choices elsewhere on the roster.
Bobrovsky’s departure would immediately elevate Andersen’s leverage because only two Cup-winning goalies sit on the unrestricted free-agent market. The resulting salary escalation spreads across multiple teams seeking veteran stability.
A new destination for Bobrovsky at age 37 carries the added risk of further statistical regression, yet his postseason pedigree still differentiates him from younger options.
Andersen’s Postseason Raises His Price Floor
Andersen recorded 16 wins against 14 losses and five overtime losses with a 3.05 GAA and .874 save percentage in 2025-26. Three early playoff shutouts helped Carolina capture the Stanley Cup before an injury forced his removal in the final series.
The Hurricanes replaced him with Brandon Bussi after Andersen posted a save percentage of .885 or lower in the first three games of that series. His prior $2.75 million salary now serves as the baseline for negotiations rather than the ceiling.
A two- or three-year contract at $4 million to $5 million annually appears realistic for Andersen at age 36. Rival clubs without established starters hold greater flexibility than Carolina’s front office on term and dollars.
Skinner, Ingram and Talbot occupy the next tier with lower cap hits of $2.6 million, $1.95 million and $2.5 million respectively. Their 2025-26 numbers of .888, .899 and .883 save percentages position them as tandem options rather than primary starters.
Andersen’s three shutouts created measurable postseason value that Bobrovsky could not replicate in his most recent campaign, shifting bargaining power toward the Carolina netminder in the short term.
Market Ripple Effects Begin July 1
Free agency opens July 1 with Bobrovsky and Andersen as the only two pending UFAs holding at least one Stanley Cup ring. Their contracts will set the price scale for the remaining three goalies listed in the top five.
Pittsburgh projects Arturs Silovs as its long-term starter, reducing the likelihood Skinner returns on anything beyond a short-term prove-it deal. Edmonton and Ottawa remain logical landing spots for Ingram given his 2.60 GAA this season.
Talbot, who turns 39 in July, posted a 3.19 GAA in 27 games. A near-minimum contract remains his most probable outcome if any contender seeks depth insurance.
The combined 2025-26 save percentages of Bobrovsky (.877) and Andersen (.874) sit below the .890 mark typically expected from starters, yet their championship résumés sustain elevated asking prices compared with the younger group.
Teams that overpay on term for either veteran risk repeating the cap constraints Florida currently navigates with Bobrovsky’s expiring deal.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.