Sergei Bobrovsky Not Looking Back on Stanley Cup, Hall of Fame-Worthy Career Just Yet
Even after capturing his first Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, Sergei Bobrovsky is not looking back on his career just yet. He just wants to focus on the moment and have some fun.
Photo by Colby Guy
After putting a bow on his Hall of Fame-worthy career with a Stanley Cup, Sergei Bobrovsky is excited to get started on another season with the Florida Panthers.
In typical Bobrovsky fashion, he has turned the page on the Cup celebration to focus on what he loves most: getting on the ice and playing hockey.
“I would say, at the end of the day, I love what I’m doing, and that’s the biggest thing for me,” Bobrovsky said. “It’s a blessing for me to be here today, to be here and to compete, and I’m excited to compete for the dream again.
“It doesn’t really matter what happened in the past. I only care about the moment that is in my hands right now, and that’s this moment. So, I’m excited to be here right now, in front of you guys, talking to you, and I’m excited to put the gear on and start to get ready for the season. The hockey is a blessing for me and I’m happy to be here.”
At 36 years old, Bobrovsky is not in the business of looking back on his career — even if his resume as a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, the all-time leader in wins from a Russian goalie and a Stanley Cup stands out as one of the best in NHL history.
But he also isn’t putting any pressure on himself to look too far in the future.
“I think as your career goes on, I think you’re going to appreciate all of your achievements after your career,” Bobrovsky said. “When you are in it, you are trying to concentrate on that one moment at your hands. You don’t think about the future, you don’t think about the past, so I think that’s the important thing. So, I believe in this moment and I’m going to enjoy this moment and make the best out of it.”
Bobrovsky has always prided himself on two things: Keeping himself in the moment and ignoring the outside noise.
That was exactly what happened when he battled through an inconsistent start to his Panthers career before he turned things around, finished third in Vezina Trophy voting this past season and ultimately ended up winning the Cup.
Just as he did not get too low on himself in those moments, he does not want to get too high on himself going into this season either.
“Things have changed a little bit around us, but inside, we have to stay the same,” Bobrovsky said. “I think, after winning, it’s challenging to keep yourself humble in the summer because there are so many people that try to bring the illusion around you and tell you how great you are and stuff like that. But it’s not reality. It’s just illusion, it’s just words.
“At the end of the day, it was a hockey game. It was a great series, a tight series, and it could go any way. And if it did not happen in our favor, we would be in a tough spot. So, I would say, going into this season and into training camp is for us to get better, start to build the chemistry and work and support each other. That’s the challenge for us. It’s not about what’s around us, it’s more what’s inside of us.
“Over the course of my career, I learned how to not listen and focus on one moment and to do what is required for the next moment. I think that’s the key thing.”
Going into season No. 14, Bobrovsky kept his preparation and mindset the same this summer.
“The summer went by pretty quick, but I would also say it was a very balanced summer,” Bobrovsky said. “You don’t need to create anything. Basically, you saw the family, friends, spent time back home, then an off-ice block and then here we are. I wish I could end the season like this all the time, but it’s definitely fun.”