COLUMBUS, Ohio – Here is a huge situation that should scare Columbus Blue Jackets fans to death. Artemi Panarin, easily the best player on the Jacket’s roster has indicated that he wants to leave Columbus. He has one year left before he can become an unrestricted free agent. On top of that, Sergei Bobrovsky has one year left on his contract before he can become an unrestricted free agent too. If both players leave that will give the Jackets approximately $13,425,000 in cap space. However, that would be the worst case scenario if both Panarin and Bobrovsky leave the team. There is absolutely nobody who is an unrestricted free agent that can replace them.
With two Vezina Trophy’s under his belt, 218 wins, 2.44 GAA, and 10,678 saves in his eight year career Bobrovsky is the best netminder in the NHL. This is a prize for any team who gets him if he decides to leave. Who will replace him? Pekka Rinne is also an unrestricted free agent for the 2019 season. Rinne is coming off a huge first time Vezina Trophy win. With 311 wins, 2.37 GAA, and a .919 save percentage in a twelve year NHL career is impressive. The problem with Rinne is that he will be 37 years old when the 2019-2020 season begins. Columbus should invest in the long term. Rinne is not the smartest choice.
This leaves Columbus Blue Jackets back up Joonas Korpisalo in a position to become the starting goalie. In the 2015-2016 season Korpisalo took over the starting position when Bobrovsky got injured. That year Korpisalo had an impressive 16 wins, 2.60 GAA, 891 saves, and a .920 save percentage in 30 starts. Last season in 17 starts, he had 8 wins, 3.32 GAA, 506 saves, and a .897 save percentage. Slightly lower numbers, but still very consistent numerically. The question remains whether Korpisalo can handle the starting position. Another question remains, if not Rinne or Korpisalo, then who?
Recent rumors have Panarin going to either the Florida Panthers or the New York Rangers. Josh Wegman of the Score reports that sources have told The Athletics Aaron Portzline that Panarin’s choice is the New York Rangers. Jeff Skinner and Max Pacioretty are two possible players that can replace Panarin. The key word is “possible” not “probable”.
Skinner has had a solid career in his 8 years in the NHL. He has 204 goals, 175 assists, and 379 points in 579 games played as a Carolina Hurricane. Skinner will play for the Buffalo Sabres in the 2018-2019 season. The 26 year old is coming off a 24 goal, 25 assist, 49 point season in 82 games. Pacioretty has had a decent career too. In ten years in the NHL the 30 year old has tallied 226 goals, 222 assists, and 448 points in 626 games played for the Montreal Canadiens. Pacioretty scored 17 goals, 20 assists, 37 points, in 64 games. Niether one of these players has the ability Panarin brings to the table. Panarin scored a career high of 82 points with 27 goals and 55 assists. In their combined 18 years in the NHL, Skinner or Pacioretty have never topped Panarin’s 82 points. Skinner scoredIn fact, Skinner and Pacioretty have played over 80 games three times each in their career. Panarin has done that every year in his three seasons in the NHL.
Should the Blue Jackets have their worst nightmare happen, it would be a long time before the Jackets make the playoffs again. GM Jarmo Kekalainen would have to pull of another genius move or two to prevent this from happening. Korpisalo may have the ability to pull off being a starter. It could very well be that Korpisalo could be an Aaron Rodgers where Brett Favre (Bobrovsky) leaves the team and pulls off a surprise. As for replacing Panarin, they are going to have to replace one of the top left wingers in the league. The question is who will this be and will he be able to fill Panarin’s shoes.
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