Sergei Bobrovsky

Lore & Background

Bobrovsky was not drafted into the NHL and did not speak much English when he first arrived. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on 6 May 2010 after four professional seasons in Russia. He made his NHL debut on 7 October 2010, earning a 3–2 win and being named first star, becoming the youngest goaltender to win a season-opening game for the Flyers. After a season backing up Ilya Bryzgalov, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on 22 June 2012.

With Columbus, Bobrovsky won his first Vezina Trophy in 2012–13 after posting a 2.00 GAA and .932 save percentage. He signed a two-year, $11.25 million extension on 1 July 2013 and was named to the NHL first All-Star team. In 2016–17, he led the league in GAA (2.06) and save percentage (.931), winning his second Vezina and finishing third in Hart Trophy voting. He helped the Blue Jackets win their first playoff series in franchise history in 2019, sweeping the Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning.

Bobrovsky signed a seven-year, $70 million contract with the Florida Panthers on 1 July 2019. After early struggles and debate over his contract, he led the league in wins (39) in 2021–22. He backstopped the Panthers to Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. In February 2023, he surpassed Evgeni Nabokov for the most wins by a Russian goaltender in NHL history.

Reader's Guide

Bobrovsky's career is defined by his two Vezina Trophy wins with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he posted career-best statistics and led the league in GAA and save percentage in 2016–17. His regular-season success, however, did not always carry into the playoffs—he posted a 3.88 GAA and .882 save percentage in a 2017 first-round loss. His legacy expanded with the Florida Panthers, where after a difficult start to his contract, he led the league in wins in 2021–22 and ultimately backstopped the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. As of 2026, he ranks seventh all-time in NHL wins and holds the record for most wins by a Russian goaltender, a mark he set in February 2023. His journey from an undrafted Russian player to a two-time Vezina winner and multi-time Stanley Cup champion underscores his resilience and longevity.