Jacob Markstrom is headed back to Florida in a trade that sends him and Angus Crookshank from the New Jersey Devils to the Florida Panthers for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves. New Jersey will not retain any of Markstrom's salary, and Florida is taking on both years of his contract.
Markstrom's $6 million hit
The Devils signed Markstrom to a two-year, $6 million extension in October, and that deal now shifts fully to Florida. His salary rises to $6 million annually when the extension kicks in next season, so the Panthers are taking on a firm cap commitment as they reshape their goaltending.
Markstrom is 36 and carries a.907 career save percentage, but his most recent season was far rougher. He went 23-19-1 with a.883 save percentage last season with New Jersey and finished his Devils tenure at.892.
Panthers change their goalies
The move comes after Florida acquired Akira Schmid on Monday, setting up a new tandem with Markstrom and Schmid. That leaves Sergei Bobrovsky's future in the mix as the Panthers rework the position before the market opens Wednesday.
Markstrom also returns to the team that drafted him in 2008 with a second-round pick. He played 43 games for the Panthers before getting traded to Vancouver, so this is a reunion built on an old connection and a fresh need.
What New Jersey receives
New Jersey gets Rodrigues, Boqvist and Steeves in the swap. Rodrigues has posted at least 11 goals and 31 points in each of the past four seasons, Boqvist scored four goals in 73 games for Florida in the 2025-26 season, and Steeves spent the season with AHL Charlotte, where he finished with 45 points and 100 penalty minutes in 72 games.
Crookshank adds another piece for Florida after scoring 24 goals in 60 games with AHL Utica. For the Panthers, the trade is a clear bet that Markstrom and Schmid can stabilize the crease around Bobrovsky's situation while Bill Zito still has around $4.44 million in cap space to finish a contract with Schmid and round out the roster.
