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Columbus Blue Jackets: Five Potential Backup Options

By William Espy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Brian Elliott #27 of the Philadelphia Flyers reacts to a shot on goal by the Florida Panthers on November 13, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Brian Elliott #27 of the Philadelphia Flyers reacts to a shot on goal by the Florida Panthers on November 13, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Columbus Blue Jackets
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 25: Goaltender Cam Talbot #33 of the Edmonton Oilers tends net during the first period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on November 25, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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.

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