FORT LAUDERDALE - Jacob Markstrom returned to the Florida Panthers net for the first time in 12 years Thursday morning at training camp, rejoining a two-time Stanley Cup champion organization he left as a 24-year-old backup and now anchors as its starting goalie at age 36.

Markstrom was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2008 NHL Draft and remained with the organization until he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Roberto Luongo in 2014. After 11 seasons and three teams, he is back in South Florida with a different mission. “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 after the first training camp session. “It’s really impressive.”

Florida Hockey Now first reported on Markstrom’s return to the ice Thursday, noting that current Panthers defensemen Dmitry Kulikov and Alexander Petrovic, as well as captain Sasha Barkov, were all teammates with Markstrom during the 2013-14 NHL season. Barkov, now 31 and a two-time Stanley Cup winning captain, offered a memorable detail from that era at Panthers media day. “I got to do the driver’s license [test] in his car,” Barkov said. “I still remember that. I hope he does too.”

Markstrom confirmed he does remember lending his car to the then-rookie Barkov - and explained his reasoning at the time. “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.”

The veteran goalie was clear-eyed about how much has changed since his first stint in Sunrise. “I’m a completely different person, a completely different goalie from what I was more than a decade ago,” he said. “It’s a special place for sure. A lot of good memories. And, I’m hoping to create a lot more.”

Markstrom and the Panthers open preseason play Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29 at Carolina at 5 p.m. on ESPN, with the home opener set for Oct. 10 against the Minnesota Wild at 6 p.m. on Scripps.