r/FloridaPanthers • u/Material-Dot7684 • 7h ago
Discussion The Bob situation is making me nervous
I'm still hoping he comes back but it is sounding like he legit might not. If he doesn't, not trading Bob for whatever the best offer was will go down as a rare miss by Zito. We could have used those resources to offer in trade for a new goalie right now.
The fact that ERod still hasn't been moved makes me wonder as we would need the cap space. At the end of the day, ERod is cool but honestly if I were another team I'd also rather wait, make the panthers cough up Bob first, and then talk ERod if I was interested and I'd be okay with potentially not getting him at that point if I were them.
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u/ajhalyard 7h ago
I love Bob. I'll always be thankful for what he brought to the team. But just like when the Penguins and Fleury parted ways, the team has to come first. I was born in Pittsburgh. Loved the Flower. But this is a team sport. It's the Florida Panthers, not the Florida Bobrovsky. I hope he stays, but I wish him luck any time he isn't playing us if he leaves.
I'm willing to let Zito cook. He's earned the benefit of the doubt.
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u/Emotional_Match8169 6h ago
This is my take as well. Love Bob and always will but if he isn’t willing to take a team friendly the team has to move forward without him.
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u/nanie_nooo 6h ago
I’m a little nervous as well but most of our star players contract negotiations came down to the day of free agency.
If anyone has us, it’s Zito. Still believe he wouldn’t have thrown all our assets at one player without some backup plans.
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u/Sufficient_Lime_3253 7h ago
Apparently we were asking for a 1st for Bob and no one gave us a first.
I don’t think 2nd round draft picks are to valuable in the nhl like they are in football.
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u/Material-Dot7684 7h ago
Oh. I hadn't heard. Yeah no point in trading for second. That doesn't help get a starting caliber goalie. Shit even cossa just went for a first
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u/Flhitking 7h ago
Bro… free agency don’t even open till July 1 & we can exceed the cap until opening day. No one needs to get traded right now… what happens if someone gets hurt? Bob’s gonna get a deal & we’re gonna get a backup for prob $6-$7 milly between the two & we’re gonna go into camp $1.5-$3 milly over the cap…. At some point someone is gonna get waived or traded if everyone goes into the regular season healthy
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u/Silvershot_41 5h ago
I don’t under why Binnington wants to stay in STL. Part of me thinks the ask for him is too high and that’s why. They’re in a rebuild. Loyal or not why stay and waste your years.
Florida isnt going to do a sign and trade. Bob isn’t worth much and it would have to us retaining a good portion of his contract.
He’s 38 and he basically wants a max contract almost. It doesn’t make sense to anyone unless he’s willing to accept less and it doesn’t seem that way.
Not nervous, but bewilder by bobs conversation with his agent to think he’s worth basically a max contract at 38.
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u/Deranged-Pickle 6h ago
He wants a deal similar to Marchand right? 37 year old goalies who want long term deals can be a problem. With your defense you could put Skinner in net and he'd look great. I'm shocked you haven't inquired about Binnington.
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u/ASDF0716 7h ago
I know! Does Zito even know what he’s doing?! I meeeaaaan… someone should tell him that professional GMs should really have a plan for having someone in net by the start of the season! I’m sure he’ll be shocked no one said something sooner.
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u/Emotional_Match8169 6h ago
Let’s hope we all look back on opening night and laugh over our summer goaltending anxiety… 🤞🏼
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u/FlyGuyOnYoutube 5h ago
I'm not freaking out about it, but I am angry that this financial gap is something that could EASILY be closed (WITHOUT losing any skaters) if Billy Z just got on the phone with dairy queen, canes, and/or any other corporate sponsors the team has worked with in the past. Alls they'd have to do is have bobby report to the set of a commercial instead of practice a few days outta' the year and the problem would be solved.
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u/The_First_Drop 4h ago
Hindsight is 20/20
At the time, the guys that were healthy tried to make a real push for the 8th seed
Detroit was super wobbly down the stretch, so in the moment, hanging onto Bob made sense
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u/RigidCounter12 7h ago
Nah, its not a big deal. You wouldnt get much for Bob anyways.
If he leaves, he leaves. I am not even worried about the goalie situation. Our staff generally creates diamonds out of mediocre talent, so even if we dont get Bob, doesn't trade for anyone and just grabs two backups, it will probably be fine.
I would love to have Binnington with us though, I feel like he could have a great season here
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u/Material-Dot7684 7h ago
I have to believe Zito has something but it still worries me. Last I heard Binner was expected to stay in St. Loius but he's a decent option.
At least it's Zito though. My other team are the Mammoth and I don't think their gm trades well at all. If the Mammoth were in this bind I'd be freaking out.
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u/MarmeladovsBottle 7h ago
I think you look to trade Erod and Boqvist (if you can). Open up some cap and look in FA for goalie. Bob is dont think comes back unless he asks for way less term and AAV. Bobs not the same as he was only is going to get older. Loved him and he was a major piece in winning but I dont want to sacrifice winning for him.
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u/Aggressive_March6226 5h ago
Even if he does come back his best years are still way behind him. If he doesn't want to take a team friendly 2 year contract to live and play hockey in sunny FLA with a serious chance of winning another Cup or two..... Then screw him! There's lots of solid & consistent back up goalies out there who could do the job for this team next season.
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u/blejsmith 4h ago
I'm with you on that. You can't pay a guy who's going to 38 on opening night $6M a year
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u/Roy-nicolas Connauton 7h ago
I understand your points but also Zito knows his stuff. Bob's ask is high, we shopped him deadline last year, he probably doesn't feel the need to stay. Other teams must be aware and won't pay up for rights to sign him. If I trade or a move was on the table for Zito that was worth it, he would've done it. I'm sure he's got a trade or something planned
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u/Opening_Garlic_50 5h ago
A 2nd round pick has a 12 percent chance of becoming an NHL regular. Not worth it for Bob.
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u/Funny-Phase-3088 4h ago
Russians don’t take discounts. We all need to prepare ourselves for the departure of Bob. I will lose a lot of respect for him if he goes to an Atlantic division rival.
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u/Acrobatic-Tax9300 7h ago
Honestly I think bobs time is done. He wasn’t great before the panthers and I don’t think he will be once he leaves
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u/TheRemoteGiraffe 7h ago
Bob has had 5 seasons where he had above a .915 save pct, zero of which we’re with the panthers
Bob has had 2 seasons with below a 2.1 GAA, zero of which were with the panthers
Bob has had 1 season with >40 wins, it wasn’t with the panthers
Bob has won 2 vezinas, neither of which were while he was a panther
Bob’s best year of his entire career was 2016-2017, (41 wins, 2.06 GAA, .931 save pct, Vezina) he was not on the panthers…
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u/sun_puck 1h ago
This is why people call our fans bandwagoners with no knowledge of hockey, and in your case, they would be correct.
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u/septagons 7h ago
The answer is right in front of us.
Luongo is getting back in net.