Columbus Blue Jackets: Five Potential Backup Options
The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a lack of reliability from backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have reached the point where they need to evaluate all options, specifically in the backup goaltending role. With Joonas Korpisalo‘s annual downward trend continuing with an abysmal save percentage and goals against average, despite a winning record, he’s not good enough to push the team to the playoffs behind Sergei Bobrovsky.
If Bobrovsky were to get hurt, Korpisalo certainly wouldn’t be good enough to lead the team to the post season either. As a result, the Blue Jackets need to look to external options both through the avenue of trade and free agency.
While there aren’t many phenomenal options available, there are quite a few solid and potentially game changing backup options that could come up in negotiations.
5. Kari Lehtonen
Kari Lehtonen is the biggest free agent available on the goaltending market and it comes as a surprise that the former Dallas Star has yet to find a home. Despite his struggles with Dallas over the past couple years, he had a rebound season last year. Last season, Lehtonen’s stats were better than any season Korpisalo has had except for his rookie year.
Lehtonen may not be a long term option, however as an option for one year until Elvis Merzlikins is ready to come over to the NHL, he could be a good filler piece. Last season, Lehtonen had a .912 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against average in 37 games. Those stats prove that with a limit amount of starts, he can still be a capable NHL level goaltender.
4. Robin Lehner
It’s unlikely that Lou Lamoriello would be willing to trade in division to the Columbus Blue Jackets, however if that were to happen then Robin Lehner of the New York Islanders could be a good option to add.
According to Capfriendly, Lehner is signed to a one year, $1.5M contract with the Islanders, who will more than likely be active in the goaltender market after this season. If the Islanders aren’t close to the playoffs by the trade deadline, Lehner and his one year contract will likely be shipped off as a rental.
Lehner had a few solid seasons with the Buffalo Sabres in the past, but never was able to solidify himself as a number one net-minder. Prior to that, he was seen as a top prospect for the Ottawa Senators.
This season his stats are above expectation, with a .913 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.79. Despite his inconsistencies in the past, Lehner seems to be on a path that could lead him to success going forward.
Thomas Greiss, Lehner’s teammate, could also be a solid addition. Greiss having a second year on his deal and a higher salary makes him less desirable considering they have similar stats so far this season. Plus, considering the outcome of the December 1st game, Greiss isn’t a popular name for Blue Jackets fans at the moment.
It’ll be difficult to work out a deal with the Islanders, considering the difficulties of working out a deal in division, however if they could make it work then Robin Lehner could be an excellent addition to the Columbus Blue Jackets going forward.
3. Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott has a similar problem as Lehner when it comes to the Columbus Blue Jackets trading in division. The Philadelphia Flyers are known for being a tough market for goaltenders, with there not being a true number one who’s been able to stick since Ilya Bryzgalov.
The last time the Blue Jackets acquired a goaltender from the Flyers, it worked out fairly well for Columbus considering that player would become two time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky. Elliott hasn’t been his former self since leaving his former home of St. Louis, despite a stop in Calgary and now in Philadelphia. He’s in the second year of a $5.5M contract which carries a $2.75M cap hit.
Elliott used to be an undoubted starting goaltender in St. Louis while they waited for Jake Allen to develop, who has yet to perform to the expectations they placed on him early on. He has a .911 save percentage and a 2.59 goals against average through his first 14 games of the season.
While the numbers aren’t phenomenal, they’re respectable, especially compared to what the Blue Jackets currently have in Korpisalo. Getting Elliott out of Philadelphia could be difficult though, as goaltending is arguably their biggest weakness. However with Paul Holmgren currently running things following the firing of Ron Hextall, last week it’s time to expect the unexpected from Philadelphia.
Brian Elliott like the previous two may not be a long term solution for Jarmo Kekalainen and company, however it could certainly be an added benefit to a long run toward the playoffs.
2. Jimmy Howard
Jimmy Howard is the highest paid goaltender on this list and arguably the hardest to acquire for the Columbus Blue Jackets considering his importance to the Detroit Red Wings if they continue to perform well this season.
Howard is in the final year of a 6 year deal with the Red Wings, where he’s spent his entire career to this point. The contract carries a hefty cap hit of roughly $5.3M, however the Blue Jackets could afford to add that salary for this year and since it’s the final year there would be no long term financial issues.
Howard is off to a phenomenal start this season, with a .922 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.70 through his first 18 games. Howard has been pushing the Wings to a pleasant surprise of a start for head coach Jeff Blashill.
He’s been in trade rumors with the St. Louis Blues according to NBC Sports and as a result, it makes sense that the Red Wings would be willing to make a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. While trading out of the conference would likely be ideal for Ken Holland, it shouldn’t be a necessity.
The biggest question is how high of an asking price the Red Wings would have for a rental Howard considering his value is currently on the rise. While it would be a high price to pay more than likely, Howard would be the most reliable and less risky option so far on the list. With an expiring deal and a resurgent year, Howard is one of the biggest question marks of the goaltending market.
1. Cam Talbot
Cam Talbot is the biggest risk for the Columbus Blue Jackets on this list, but he has potential the highest reward over the next couple of years. He recently lost the starting job in Edmonton, his stats aren’t that good to start the year admittedly, and he has a pretty big cap hit at $4.167M. However he’s on the last year of that deal, and he’s mainly struggled as a result of an abysmal defense in front of him and an inability to break out as a starting goaltender.
With the New York Rangers as a backup, Talbot was arguably one of the best goaltenders in the league. The Oilers on the other hand, have overplayed him and it’s hurt him tremendously. If Talbot was back to a backup role, then he’d be able to rest between starts and gather himself rather than being forced into a game when he’s not ready.
He’s had a workload for the Edmonton Oilers that has been heavier than Sergei Bobrovsky’s for Columbus, which is almost unthinkable. With the way he’s been playing as of late, his value is likely at an all time low. As a result, the Blue Jackets would likely be able to acquire Talbot fairly cheaply and potentially get a superstar backup for a year.
Next. Time to End the Joonas Korpisalo Era. dark
The only question for Talbot is whether or not he’d be willing to step back into a backup role willingly following two seasons of 67 games or higher. It would likely be a good career move to keep all options open in a career year for Talbot though and he could be a difference maker in Columbus.