Sergei Bobrovsky is coming to Toronto on a stunning contract!

The NHL free agency window opened on July 1, and the Toronto Maple Leafs wasted no time pursuing a goaltender with two Stanley Cup rings on his fingers. But the path to this moment only crystallized in the final day before the market opened.

The Florida Panthers made a pair of moves that effectively ended Sergei Bobrovsky's tenure in South Florida. First, they acquired backup Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights. Then they swung a bigger deal, landing Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils along with Angus Crookshank in exchange for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves.

With a new goaltending tandem locked in, the Panthers appeared ready to let the 37-year-old Bobrovsky walk. All signs reportedly pointed to Toronto as the destination in the first hours of free agency on Wednesday.

According to Friedman, the Markstrom trade from New Jersey to Florida helped pave the way for the Leafs to pursue the pending free agent.

Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun later confirmed that a three-year deal was in place, carrying a $7M AAV.

Earlier indications had suggested Bobrovsky preferred to remain in Florida, where he captured back-to-back championships. His eight-year contract had expired, and a return to the Panthers was reportedly his first choice. That option, however, appears to have closed entirely. Friedman reported that Bobrovsky's final ask of Florida was three years at $21 million.

The fit in Toronto carries obvious appeal. Bobrovsky brings deep playoff experience and already has a relationship with current Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz from their time together in Florida. The Leafs have faced lingering questions about their goaltending depth, with Stolarz dealing with injury concerns and Dennis Hildeby still largely untested at the NHL level.

Bobrovsky's regular season numbers took a step back last year. In 52 games with the Panthers, he recorded an .877 save percentage and a 3.07 goals against average, well below the standard he set during his Vezina Trophy seasons in Columbus. Still, his track record in high-stakes moments remains difficult to dismiss.

More signings in Toronto

Moments later, it was also announced that the Maple Leafs had proceeded to the signing of Colton Sissons for two years, carrying a $4.25M AAV.

The team also added Teddy Blueger, who scored 9 goals in 34 games for the Vancouver Canucks during the 2025-26 NHL regular season, on a two-year contract, worth $2.5M annually.

Brandon Duhaime was also added to the Leafs' roster for three season, with a $2.6M AAV.

Cap situation