Sergei Bobrovsky’s growth into a top goalie is complete: ‘Bob’ is now a Stanley Cup champion

SUNRISE, Fla. — Sergei Bobrovsky went undrafted and had little fanfare when he signed his first NHL contract in May 2010. Boucher went over to goalie coach Jeff Reese and said of his teammate, “I’m in trouble.” Reese did not disagree. I want to enjoy it.” Michael Leighton, a fellow goalie who played parts of Bobrovsky’s first two seasons with him, said Bobrovsky was one of the hardest-working goalies he ever played with. “He’s very, very confident and trusts what he believes in and what he’s doing.” Leighton, holder of the American Hockey League shutout record, like Boucher noticed the physical tools right away and since then has seen Bobrovsky perfect the mental aspect of tending goal in the NHL. And you’ve seen him over the last five, six years how he’s just progressed and gotten better and now mentally I think he’s really grown into a mentally strong goaltender.” It took being mentally strong to get through this postseason, including a roller coaster final that included posting a dominant, 32-save shutout in the series opener and getting pulled for allowing five goals on 16 shots in a Game 4 Edmonton win that kept it from being a sweep.