FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers opened training camp at the Iceplex with a new starting goalie for the first time since 2019, as Jacob Markstrom replaces two-time Stanley Cup champion Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes for the back-to-back defending champions.

Captain Sasha Barkov did not hide his mixed emotions. “I don’t need to tell you guys how great of a person, how great of a teammate, a player, a goalie, he was for us, this organization, and community,” Barkov said, as Florida Hockey Now reported. “He did so much, literally, for everyone here and everyone loved him. It’s very sad to see him go. Of course, it’s part of this business sometimes. I only have good things to say about him.”

Bobrovsky helped the Panthers win the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025, cementing himself as one of the most important players in franchise history. His departure left a hole the Panthers moved quickly to fill — acquiring Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils in a trade the day before free agency opened.

Markstrom’s return to South Florida is a full-circle story. The Panthers originally drafted him in the second round of the 2008 draft in Ottawa, and he was considered the franchise’s future starter until he was dealt in the 2014 trade that brought Roberto Luongo back to Sunrise. Luongo, now in charge of Florida’s goaltending department, was a driving force behind bringing Markstrom back.

“I had great conversations with Bill Zito, Lu, Robb Tallas,” Markstrom said in July. “It gets your blood pumping a little bit. It’s a special feeling to be back in Florida, you know, where I was drafted.”

Barkov and Markstrom share history that predates the captain’s 13-year tenure in South Florida. During Barkov’s first weeks in the state after being selected with the second pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, Markstrom loaned the 17-year-old his car so Barkov could get his Florida driver’s license. “I got to get my driver’s license in his car,” Barkov said. “I remember that, I hope he does, too. We had some fun moments that first season when he was here. I think he’s an unbelievable goalie. A big goalie, too. He covers a lot of ice, competes a lot.”

Barkov spent only part of that 2013-14 season with Markstrom before a knee injury suffered playing for Finland at the Sochi Olympics ended his rookie campaign early. Markstrom was traded before the 2014 deadline. Now both are reunited alongside holdovers Dmitry Kulikov and goalie coach Robb Tallas — among the few constants from that era still with the organization in Sunrise.

The Panthers have four preseason games scheduled, beginning with a home matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday at 7 p.m. Florida opens the 2026-27 NHL regular season at Carolina on Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. on ESPN, with the home opener against the Minnesota Wild set for Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.