Panthers' Goalie Problem Makes a Hellebuyck Call Worth Considering

Florida's goaltending has gone sideways faster than anyone in the building expected. Jacob Markström is hurt, his save percentage is sitting at .896, and Akira Schmid is carrying a bigger share of starts than anyone planned for this early. That's the backdrop for a question Bill Zito should be asking again: is Connor Hellebuyck still a realistic target?

A summer built around depth, and a goalie plan that pivoted

The Panthers were busy. They added Brady Tkachuk and Garnet Hathaway, brought back Radko Gudas and Jacob Markström, and still have one of the deepest lineups in the league on paper. Hellebuyck was the first goalie Zito reportedly looked at, but when that deal didn't come together, Florida pivoted to the 36-year-old Markström.

Markström's start looked like the right call. He shut out the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Opening Night, and the Panthers had every reason to believe they'd found their answer. That hasn't held. He has missed time, and the numbers have slipped below the .900 mark that Florida fans were hoping to avoid from a veteran who wanted a shot at a true contender.

The injury and the workload behind it

On Monday, Oct. 19, Markström was hurt in practice. The NHL's status report lists him as out "10-14 days" with an undisclosed injury, so the exact timeline is still open. For a team that already had a goalie tandem question, that's a problem with no quick fix. Schmid has now been asked to start more games than anticipated for the second time in just a matter of weeks, and his Wednesday game against Ottawa ended with five goals against.

The bigger concern is durability. Markström is paid like a No. 1 goalie, but he hasn't come close to 50 games in over three seasons. His last season above that mark came with Calgary in 2022-23, when he played 59 games and went 23-21-12. His time with New Jersey was also marked by minor injuries, and some time was missed in Calgary before that. A 3-1-1 start is encouraging on the win column, but his .896 save percentage ranks 31st in the league, and the health history is what makes that number hard to dismiss.

That's the uncomfortable part for Florida. Replacing Sergei Bobrovsky, who left in free agency for Toronto, was always going to be a challenge. Asking Markström to stay healthy for a full regular season and then carry the team through four rounds of playoff hockey may be asking a lot from a 36-year-old who has never reached the Final or even the third round.

Where Hellebuyck fits, and what it would cost

Hellebuyck is the kind of goalie who changes a playoff conversation. He's a former Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, and he recently won Olympic gold alongside Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, which gives any potential deal a built-in connection to Florida's group. He hasn't played yet this season, and he was suspended for not reporting to camp. That suspension is reportedly set to end Friday, which makes this the moment a phone call would make sense.

The obstacle is money. Hellebuyck carries an $8.5 million cap hit, and according to CapWages.com, Florida has only $1.4 million in available cap space. Closing that gap would likely mean moving real salary, and probably prospects or draft picks as well. Winnipeg could retain part of the contract to help make the numbers work, but the NHL's restrictions on multiple salary-retention transactions mean Florida couldn't simply count on a third team to absorb a chunk of the deal in a traditional three-team arrangement.

That's why the creative options matter. Speculatively, Zito could look at a separate transaction with a rebuilding club that creates room. Chicago, with Connor Bedard leading a young group on the rise, could be a place where prospects or future picks are of interest in exchange for taking on a contract. Calgary is another possibility. The Flames are struggling and projected near the bottom of the standings, and they've been moving veterans for draft picks and younger players. That kind of retooling can open salary flexibility for a contender, but none of these scenarios are reported talks. They're the paths a front office would have to walk to make a deal happen.

What to watch next

My read is that Florida's window for a goalie move is open, but it's narrowing. The Panthers have the talent to win now, and Hellebuyck is a far more proven answer than a tandem of Markström and Schmid. The questions are timing and cost. Watch how long Markström's injury keeps him out, whether Schmid can stabilize things during that stretch, and whether Hellebuyck's return from suspension opens any door in Winnipeg. If Markström misses the full 10-14 days, the pressure on Florida's crease will only grow.

Zito has been known to make bold moves, and this would be one of his biggest. Whether he picks up the phone or sticks with Markström, the Panthers' Stanley Cup hopes this season will likely hinge on which goalie is standing in the crease in April.