Panthers Goalie sergei Bobrovsky Celebrates Wins with Teammate Wine Raffles
SUNRISE, FL – Florida panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has cultivated a unique postgame tradition: a raffle awarding a bottle of wine to a teammate following each of his victories. Teh practice, a gesture of appreciation for the team’s collective effort, has become a popular ritual within the Panthers’ locker room as the team enjoys sustained success.
bobrovsky, a 16-year NHL veteran, began his career with the Philadelphia Flyers before a trade sent him to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he earned two Vezina Trophies as the league’s top goaltender.He joined the Panthers in 2019, signing a seven-year, $70 million contract. While his initial seasons in Florida brought mixed results – including just one shutout in his first two years and a career-worst 3.23 goals-against average in his debut campaign – Bobrovsky found his stride in the 2022-23 playoffs.
Initially not the Game 1 starter against the Boston Bruins, Bobrovsky took over for Alex Lyon during the series, ultimately leading the Panthers to an upset victory and a surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games.
“We have a great group of guys,” Bobrovsky said. “We’ve got great, solid management, great coaches, great staff. It’s exciting to be part of this team. I appreciate this prospect to be the goalie for this organization, and I’m blessed.”
Bobrovsky’s recent performance has been particularly strong, recording five shutouts in his past six playoff series. His generosity and humility have resonated with teammates.
“He’s been unbelievable, and we don’t have our success without him,” said Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe, a past raffle winner. “he’s such a good guy.If you’re lucky to talk to him, he’s a really, really fun guy to be around.”
Forward Jonah Gadjovich added,”He loves to give back. he’s a very generous guy,and I think he just has some fun with it,too.”
Some players, like defenseman Gustav Schmidt, who has won the raffle twice, have enjoyed thier winnings, but are preserving at least one bottle. “I’ll never drink it,” Schmidt said.
The tradition excludes the coaching staff, a decision understood by Head Coach Paul Maurice. “The players do ‘all the hard things,’ such as blocking shots and defending to help preserve Bobrovsky’s shutout bids,” Maurice explained. “It’s a smart thing to do. And it’s a kind thing to do.” He jokingly added, ”(He) could expand it every once in a while. I’m just saying.”
