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Columbus Blue Jackets: Korpisalo Isn’t the Future in Goal

By William Espy

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 7: Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Columbus Blue Jackets makes the save against the Nashville Predators during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on April 7, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 7: Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Columbus Blue Jackets makes the save against the Nashville Predators during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on April 7, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Joonas Korpisalo was pegged in the past as the future Sergei Bobrovsky replacement for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Joonas Korpisalo‘s not developing how the Columbus Blue Jackets would have hoped and it’s evident in his career statistics. He’s getting worse annually rather than improving, which could be due to a lack of playing time.

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A backup goaltender should be able to perform when they have to and if they can’t, they shouldn’t be a backup at the NHL level. On top of that, if a player can’t perform at the backup role then why would any team be willing to take a chance on him at the NHL level?

Joonas Korpisalo’s career numbers are inflated by the 2015-2016 season when he played about half of his NHL games to date. However, without that season they go down significantly.

In his first 31 games at the NHL level, Korpisalo posted a .920 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.60. Over the last two seasons, his save percentage has hovered around .900 with a 3.1 GAA in 32 games.

With Sergei Bobrovsky potentially moving on from the Columbus Blue Jackets after this season, they need a goaltender of the future and Joonas Korpisalo isn’t that guy.

Many fans keep his run during the Bobrovsky injury during the 2015-2016 season in mind and reference it as a showcase of his ability. That could potentially be the case, however that was 3 seasons ago and he’s yet to do anything remotely close to that level of play. Every year that passes makes that run seem more like an outlier.

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While Joonas Korpisalo has a spot with the Columbus Blue Jackets as the long term backup, he shouldn’t have a chance at the starting spot unless he steps up in another moment of need first. It’s worth exploring all options if Bobrovsky leaves, but don’t expect Korpisalo to be in a starting NHL role anytime soon.

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