We have more news on this July 1. Daniil Tarasov has signed a one-year extension with the Florida Panthers, carrying a $1.105 million cap hit next year. The Russian shot-stopper was recently acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets and will serve as the backup to Sergei Bobrovsky next season.
Florida will hope Bobrovsky can mentor the 26-year-old goalie and make him the heir to the crease. Fresh off back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships, the Panthers have found a young backup goalie. It’s an important signing for the Cats.
Report: Panthers re-sign Daniil Tarasov to one-year contract
— DailyFaceoff.com (@dailyfaceoff.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T15:00:11Z
Danil Tarasov Signed by Florida Panthers
Florida doesn’t have a lot of cap space left. After general manager Bill Zito capped gymnastics to retain all three of their big unrestricted free agents, getting this done cheaply was key. He’s done that. It was always a matter of when this deal would get done after the Panthers traded a fifth-round pick for the Russian. Now, he’ll replace Vitek Vanacek as the backup netminder after Spencer Knight was traded at the deadline.
What This Means For Tarasov
Tarasov fell upwards here. After posting a 7-10-2 record for the Blue Jackets, he got traded to the best team in the NHL. Despite posting a .881 save percentage and a 3.54 goals-against average last season, Florida has faith in him. Whether that is misguided or not, we will see, but the Panthers see something. If he can be more consistently good, he’ll be a problem in this league. He’s struggling with the same inconsistencies Bobrovsky had when he was a Blue Jacket.
It does mean Tarasov will be in the backup role for the time being. It’s just a one-year contract to take him to unrestricted free agency, but it gives him a chance to learn. If he can take on some of the habits that helped Bobrovsky through his struggles, he could become a genuine starting-calibre goaltender. It’s a reach from here, though. He’s got to play better first, and that will be the essential thing to Tarasov right now.
What it means for Florida
The Panthers get a new backup. With Vanacek leaving, they had to do something. Bobrovsky needs someone who can give him rest, and the energetic kid is the answer, the Panthers hope. If Tarasov can provide that, it’s a well-spent fifth-round pick. The Panthers are beginning to empty the cupboards in an attempt to keep winning. If they win a third cup, it worked. There is some risk, though.
Tarasov’s inconsistencies may lead to a situation that causes the Panthers to get another goalie at the deadline. While it’s not the worst situation because Tarasov’s deal could be buried with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, it’s not ideal. It would mean the Panthers just got rid of a pick for nothing. We’ll see what happens, but there is a low risk here. It’s not the “all-upside” bet some will paint it to be. We’ll see what happens between now and then, though.
Main photo by: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
The post Florida Panthers Sign Backup Goaltender appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.