COLUMBUS, OH – JANUARY 21: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets warms up prior to the start of the game against the Calgary Flames on January 21, 2016 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

It might be time for the Blue Jackets to trade Sergei Bobrovsky

What should the Columbus Blue Jackets do with Bob?

The Blue Jackets long had a goalie carousel of underachievers which ended with Steve Mason imploding. Acquiring Sergei Bobrovsky from the Philadelphia Flyers for three draft picks instantly brought the team much-needed stability between the pipes.

Bobrovsky joined the league’s elite netminders when he burst onto the scene in 2012-13, winning the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender in the NHL in his inaugural season with the Blue Jackets. The 27-year-old brought it the following season, acting as the main catalyst to getting Columbus in the playoffs in 2013-14. In 2014-15, he won 30 games for the second straight season. He was playing great hockey and helping the Blue Jackets win.

GM Jarmo Kekalainen had faith Bobrovsky was the long-term solution in net and signed him to a steep four-year contract extension worth $7.45 million in 2015, making him one of the highest-paid goalies in the league. Kekalainen made a decent gamble that Bobrovsky could continue to solidify the Blue Jackets between the pipes. Unfortunately, since that time, Bobrovsky’s play has tailed off to the point where his contract might need to be moved.

Both Bobrovsky’s save percentage and even strength save percentage have dipped in his four seasons in Columbus. He struggled last season. To be fair, he’s dealt with injuries, but it’s not encouraging that his save percentage has declined successively over the past four years. His .915 even strength save percentage in 2015-16 ranked 56th out of 69 qualified goalies with at least 500 minutes played. Karri Ramo, Cam Ward and Onrej Pavelec all ranked ahead of him.

Bob

Via War on Ice

It doesn’t help Bobrovsky’s case that 22-year-old Finnish netminder Joonas Korpisalo performed much better over a very similar sample size last year. In 31 games, Korpisalo posted a .933 even strength save percentage which was almost .20 points higher (a significant margin) than Bobrovsky’s .915 marker. Korpisalo is also younger, cheaper and healthier than Bobrovsky.

I’d be leery to give the full-time job to Korpisalo, especially since Bobrovsky hasn’t outright lost the number one role. Head coach John Tortorella told the Columbus Dispatch that Bobrovsky is the number one goalie, but he still could elevate his play.

“(Bobrovsky) is not happy because he’s a proud guy and he knows he can get it to another level,” Tortorella said. “But he’s our number guy as we enter camp, and I expect huge things from him.”

While Tortorella intends on Bobrovsky being the number one guy at camp, the Blue Jackets’ salary situation might force the team’s hand. Columbus is pressed up against the cap, with almost their entire roster returning next season. While no contracts in the league are unmovable, they’ll have trouble clearing cap space from guys like David Clarkson ($5.2 million x four more years), Nick Foligno ($5.5 million x five more years) and Jack Johnson ($4.3 million x two years). Defenseman Seth Jones is also an RFA and will demand a huge contract in free agency. Other teams would be smart to offer sheet him and take advantage of Columbus’ cap mess. Trading Bobrovsky and the more than $21 million owed to him over the next three seasons would clear cap space so the Jackets wouldn’t have to operate in tight quarters.

Would it be optimal to trade Bobrovsky? No. In a perfect world, the Blue Jackets would hang on to him and give him a chance to bounce back before making the tough decision to deal him. But, with salary cap constraints and Korpisalo on the rise, now might be the best time to make a bold move. Even if it doesn’t seem like a great short-term play.

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com

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