Hurricanes checked – Carolina’s Stanley Cup push is backed by Brandon Bussi in place of Frederik Andersen, but a report from NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun says the Hurricanes also reached out to the Florida Panthers about Sergei Bobrovsky at the NHL Trade Deadline—only for talks to st
For the Carolina Hurricanes, the Stanley Cup Final is supposed to feel like momentum. It has—at least on the ice.
They enter the decisive edge with a three games to two lead over the Vegas Golden Knights. and they’re now one win away from what would be their first Stanley Cup victory in 20 years. Since the midway point of Game 3. Carolina has leaned on goaltender Brandon Bussi. inserting him between the pipes in place of Frederik Andersen. with Bussi’s strong play giving the franchise a chance to close the series.
But while Carolina chases history, the offseason work didn’t stop at the trade deadline.
In a recently published report from NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, the Hurricanes’ search at the NHL Trade Deadline included a serious conversation with the Florida Panthers about Sergei Bobrovsky. Bobrovsky, the report notes, can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
LeBrun wrote that the March 6 trade deadline came and went without a goalie trade for Carolina. The league’s view of the talks, as described by LeBrun, was that the Hurricanes reached out to Florida about Bobrovsky, but Florida wasn’t willing to give up the two-time Stanley Cup champion.
Carolina. according to the same report. would have needed to part with at least a second-round pick to make a deal work. Yet negotiations never climbed out of preliminary discussion. The Hurricanes’ front office didn’t turn that interest into a trade. and because talks never escalated. the “what if” never gets answered.
Bobrovsky’s situation with Florida adds extra weight to the question of what Carolina missed. The Panthers signed him to a seven-year contract in the summer of 2019. and in that span he helped drive the club to three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances—winning the last two. in 2024 and 2025. over the Edmonton Oilers.
Whether Carolina revisits Bobrovsky in a different form—through free agency or another window—remains uncertain. For now, the Hurricanes are focused on the one thing that can erase every offseason uncertainty: winning the next game and finishing the job they’re one step from doing.
NHL Carolina Hurricanes Florida Panthers Sergei Bobrovsky Brandon Bussi Frederik Andersen Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final trade deadline March 6
So they “checked” on Bobrovsky… but didn’t get him? Sounds like panic shopping.
Bussi is doing great but I’m confused why they didn’t just trade for Bobrovsky anyway. Panthers could’ve thrown in like a 3rd?? idk how hockey money works.
I swear every deadline article is the same. “talks started” “didn’t escalate” “needed a second-rounder” blah blah. If Andersen was struggling, they should’ve just made the move instead of waiting til July.
Deadline passes and Carolina just sits there… Panthers not willing to give him up but then of course he’s a free agent July 1, like convenient timing. Also I thought Bobrovsky retired or something? Maybe I’m mixing him up with that other goalie. Anyway Hurricanes better not choke the next game.