Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Prediction: Resign him before the end of the season.
If the Jackets trade McElhinney or let him go, they wouldn’t have anyone to back up Bobrovsky. If Bob got hurt like he did this year, the Jackets would be relying on Mike McKenna of Springfield to take over goaltending duties. That is not likely. Unless they make a trade for some other goalie, which is unlikely, the Jackets will probably have to resign McElhinney this year. Bobrovsky is still the clear goaltending leader on the roster, but McElhinney held his own during Bobrovsky’s injury earlier in the year. His save percentage is .90, and Bobrovsky only barely beats him with a .91. McElhinney’s goals against average is 2.80, whereas Bobrovsky’s is 2.52. I think McElhinney is a good choice for a backup goaltender for the Jackets, so I don’t see him being moved in the near future.