FORT LAUDERDALE - Jacob Markstrom was back where it all started on Thursday morning, stepping into a Florida Panthers net for the first time in 12 years.
The Panthers originally picked Markstrom in the second round of the 2008 NHL Draft, and he stayed in the organization until Florida sent him to the Vancouver Canucks in the Roberto Luongo trade in 2014. More than a decade and three teams later, the 36-year-old is back in South Florida as the club’s new starter.
Since arriving a little more than a month ago, Markstrom said he’s been struck by what he’s seen from the franchise.
“Ever since I got here, just over a month ago, I’ve just been super impressed with what the team, organization and Vinnie Viola has done to this franchise,” Markstrom said Thursday after the first training camp session.
“It’s really impressive.
”Playing against this team for the last decade or so you can see it every year, [they’re] taking steps to become a better and better team… To be here and to be part of something new, and a really hungry group. I’m just super excited.”
A few familiar faces remain from the Panthers’ earlier days in Sunrise. Defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Alexander Petrovic, along with center Sasha Barkov, were teammates with Markstrom during the 2013-14 season.
Barkov, then a rookie in 2013, once used Markstrom’s car for his Florida driver’s license test. He brought it up again Wednesday at Panthers media day.
”I got to do the driver’s license [test] in his car,” Barkov said on Wednesday at Panthers media day. “I still remember that. I hope he does too.”
Markstrom said he absolutely does remember.
“I figured he can do it because he’s probably going to make a lot of money because I saw him in practice and he looked pretty darn good,” Markstrom said with a smile.
“So, I figured if he crashes the car, he can buy me a new one.”
A lot has changed since then. Barkov is now 31 and a two-time Stanley Cup winning captain. The Panthers have a new state-of-the-art practice facility near downtown Fort Lauderdale, and there are two Stanley Cup banners hanging from the rafters in Sunrise.
Markstrom, meanwhile, says he’s not the same goalie - or the same person - who left Florida all those years ago.
”I’m a completely different person, a completely different goalie from what I was more than a decade ago,” Markstrom said when asked if putting on the Panthers jersey brought back old memories.
“It’s a special place for sure. A lot of good memories.
“And, I’m hoping to create a lot more.”
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Have A Winger Question They Can't Ignore
Bill Zitos latest update left Florida with an early-season hole on the wing, and it comes at a spot the Panthers were likely hoping to keep stable. Marchand is set to miss the start of the season after offseason surgery, which immediately forces the front office to at least consider short-term help while the roster settles in around him.
Michael Bunting has surfaced as one name worth watching, a veteran who has bounced around the league since 2018-19 and could fit as a low-cost depth option. For now, though, its only discussion, not a finished move, and the Panthers are left weighing how aggressively they want to patch the gap before opening night gets here. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres' Goalie Search Just Got More Interesting Than Fans Realized
Elliotte Friedman added another layer to the offseason goalie chatter on the 32 Thoughts podcast, saying the Sabres and Panthers both showed interest in Winnipegs Connor Hellebuyck. For Florida, it fits the larger picture of a team that kept exploring ways to stabilize the crease before ultimately settling its goaltending plan elsewhere, while Winnipegs stance made the market tougher to navigate from the start.
The Jets were looking for a goalie back rather than future assets, which instantly complicated any possible deal and put a premium on matching the right pieces in return. Friedman also noted that draft picks and no-trade clauses were part of the conversation, a sign that these talks had enough substance to matter even if they never got close to the finish line, and Winnipegs broader search may still intersect with other names like Alexander Nikishin. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Prospect Kai Schwindt Enters A Make-Or-Break Stretch
Kai Schwindts path through the Panthers system has already taken him across plenty of rungs, from the OHL to the ECHL and AHL, with stops in Mississauga, Sarnia, Florida, Savannah and Charlotte. Signed to a three-year entry-level deal on Sept. 30, 2022, after standing out at the organizations development and training camps, he has spent the last few seasons trying to turn that early promise into a clearer role as a pro.
Now, the stretch ahead matters more than ever for a player still trying to establish his place in the pipeline. Schwindt has spent time developing with Charlotte, and the next step will go a long way toward showing whether he can keep climbing within the Panthers structure or if his window to make a stronger impression is starting to narrow. [Read more 🡒]