Sergei Bobrovsky soaking in life as Stanley Cup Champion, Vezina finalist
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is having a hell of a week.
On Monday night, Bobrovsky backstopped the Panthers to an exhilarating victory in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, cementing his status as one of the NHL’s all-time greatest goaltenders.
In addition to now being a Stanley Cup Champion, Bob has won a pair of Vezina Trophies and racked up 396 NHL victories and 44 shutouts over his 14 seasons in the league.
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While his teammates have been in celebration mode all week, Bobrovsky had to take a break from the partying and travel to Las Vegas for Thursday night’s NHL Awards.
“It’s been great,” Bobrovsky said Thursday. “My emotions are a little bit settled, and it’s great to be here around the best hockey players in the world at this time. It’s a privilege to be here.”
Bob was a finalist for the 2024 Vezina Trophy, along with Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck – who was announced as this year’s winner – and Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko.
Bobrovsky finished third in voting, but did receive the only first place vote that did not go to Hellebuyck.
Speaking after the awards ceremony was over, Hellebuyck took a moment to give some praise to Bobrovsky for his excellent season.
“He’s a great goaltender and had a great run, and he could just as well be up here,” Hellebuyck said. “Hats off to him.”
While Bobrovsky did not take home the individual achievement hardware from Vegas, he’s surely quite content with winning a Stanley Cup and being recognized as a finalist for the Vezina.
It’s all good right now for Bob.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said. “We made it all the way. It was a tough run, we went through a lot, and I’m definitely very happy.”
Bobrovsky has enjoyed a very impressive season that most goaltenders don’t see at his age.
In addition to his nod as a Vezina finalist, the 35-year-old was also selected as an All-Star for the third time in his career.
Bob is a seasoned veteran who understands and appreciates that being the hardest worker doesn’t necessarily mean you get the best results.
It gives him a level of appreciation for what all his effort and dedication has earned him, and what it means for his his place among the top goaltenders in the world.
“I also said after the All-Star Game that it’s a special moment for me to be around the new generation of goalies,” he said. “It’s special and it’s an honor.”
Now Bobrovsky will return to South Florida and join his teammates, who have been celebrating their Stanley Cup Win all across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
The big party to come will be on Sunday, when the Panthers hold their Stanley Cup Championship parade in Fort Lauderdale.
“It’s going to be great,” Bobrovsky said. “I’m looking forward to sharing this moment with our fans, they deserve it.”
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