Why Sergei Bobrovsky is the Florida Panthers’ Most Important Player

There’s a simpler way to think about hockey than what the Florida Panthers have done in recent years; give up fewer goals, and they can score fewer goals to win. For this next season, new goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will have a big say on how Florida need to play.

Sergei Bobrovsky, 31, was signed on July 1st from Columbus to a seven-year, $70 million contract to replace longtime Panther Roberto Luongo in the crease. Ultimately, Luongo had run out of gas, and supposed goalie of the future James Reimer never consistently dominated the crease for the Florida Panthers.

It goes without saying that that is an expensive price, especially for someone on the wrong side of 30. Bobrovsky, along with…