​The Florida Panthers failed to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after making a run to the Stanley Cup Final, despite a campaign that was hampered by an astonishing number of injuries to key players. Among those sidelined was former Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk, who missed the first several months of the season. Yet, despite those setbacks, the Panthers are positioned to be right back in the thick of things next season, especially with the acquisition of Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators adding another layer of depth and leadership. In the goaltending department, the Panthers faced a shake-up as Sergei Bobrovsky left in free agency for a divisional rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. They answered the question between the pipes by bringing in former Flames netminder Jacob Markstrom, who was playing with the New Jersey Devils at the time of the trade.
Markstrom’s return to the organization where his NHL career began is more than a homecoming; it’s a reunion with Matthew Tkachuk, with whom he spent several seasons in Calgary. During a recent episode of the “Wingmen” podcast featuring his brother Brady, Matthew admitted he had mixed emotions about Markstrom’s return to Florida. While he was disappointed to bid farewell to Bobrovsky, he also expressed excitement about reuniting with a longtime teammate. “Mixed emotions,” Tkachuk said. “You’re sad for a bit, but also happy that we get to play with Marky. I played with him in Calgary, and that last year, he was maybe the best goalie in the league.”
The Panthers acquired Markstrom in exchange for forwards Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist, along with the rights to prospect Ben Steeves. Rodrigues, who played a key role in the Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup success, is another player Tkachuk will miss as part of the business side of professional sports. “E-Rod? Both Finals, both playoff runs … he is such a Swiss Army knife,” Tkachuk noted. “Jersey is getting a good one. I was talking with Jack [Hughes] after the trade, and I’m like, ‘Dude, you are going to love playing with this guy.’ I love playing with him. The performance he had in the Finals is the legit stuff of legends. We are not winning the Cup without him. He was that good. And, such a great guy, great family. Sad to see him go.”
Markstrom’s journey to the Panthers has been a long one. He spent several seasons with the Flames after they signed him in free agency in 2020 to a six-year, $36 million deal. The goalie had originally been selected by the Panthers with the 31st overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, only to be traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2014 as part of the blockbuster Roberto Luongo deal. Now, he returns to the organization that started his NHL career, eager to don Panthers colors once again and ready to contribute on the ice.
“I didn’t think I was going to get traded 12 years ago—or however long it’s been,” Markstrom said of returning to the Panthers. “I didn’t think I was going to get traded back, either. It’s good to get back. I’m excited to go into that dressing room.” He added that he had meaningful conversations with Panthers’ management about the move, noting, “I had great conversations with Bill Zito, Lu, Robb Tallas,” underscoring the sense of continuity and collaboration that accompanied the trade.
As the Panthers chart their course for the upcoming season, the roster’s rebuilt front line, bolstered by Brady Tkachuk’s arrival and the Markstrom acquisition, signals a credible push to contend again. The defensive structure and goaltending tandem will be crucial, but the optimism within the organization remains high. For fans, the return to form and the chance to see Markstrom back in a Panthers sweater, coupled with the emergence of younger talents and the continued development of established players, offer a compelling narrative as the season approaches.