Columbus Blue Jackets Contract Negotiations with Sergei Bobrovsky Stall

Much like the negotiations with Artemi Panarin, it looks like the Columbus Blue Jackets and Sergei Bobrovsky are far apart on a deal.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have continually hit a wall this summer when it comes to negotiations with the teams best players. Both Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin will likely enter the final season of their contracts with the Jackets both very far away from a deal.

According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, talks between Bob and management have stalled. Both sides seem to be on very different pages when it comes to salary and terms, which should come as welcome news to Jackets fans.

It is no secret that Bob is looking for a Carey Price-like deal as he enters unrestricted free agency. The soon to be 30-year-old is arguably the best goalie in the game right now and wants to be compensated accordingly.

Not a crazy stance for Bob and his team to hold.

The problem is, how much longer can Bob play at this level? Can he continue to produce at a satisfactory level when he is 38?

Columbus Blue Jackets

Very rarely do goalies play at an elite level past that age and Bob is looking for an eight year deal. If the Jacket succumb to Bob’s demands, they will likely be paying him $10 million a season far past his prime. The cap hit would be detrimental in the future and a Price-like contract will look terrible in five years.

Plus the Jackets spent alot to protect their current backup goalie, Joonas Korpisalo. Joonas was one of the team’s biggest consideration when they made the deal with Vegas to send William Karlsson and a 1st round pick to the desert last summer. The team clearly thinks very highly of Korpi and should consider increasing his workload this season in anticipation of Bobrovsky not agreeing to terms.

Even deeper in the prospect pool is highly regarded netminder Elvis Merzlikins. Elvis is in the final year of his contract with HC Lugano in the Swiss league and has dominated in the NLA. He would be an excellent back-up to Joonas in the 2019-2020 season if Bob does walk.

Bob and the Jackets not being close on terms though shouldn’t come to a surprise to anyone. It is still only August and it is prime time to be throwing out crazy offers that neither side will accept. Both sides will likely work toward the middle unless Bob holds firm on being the highest paid goalie in the NHL.

Jarmo and the Jackets won’t be the first to blink in this negotiation. They have too many solid options behind Bob and the history of terrible goalie contracts to affirm that agreeing to Bob on an eight year, $85 million contract would be a mistake.

Bob is more likely to re-sign then Panarin before the trade deadline, but don’t hold your breath. The two sides will continue to talk but prepare yourselves for this to be the final season of Bob in Columbus.