Columbus Blue Jackets: End of an Era Second Half Predictions
The Columbus Blue Jackets are likely entering the end of an era with the second half of the season set to start.
The Columbus Blue Jackets can’t afford to lose two players for free going into the next off-season, so if it seems as if either player is ready to move on; then it’ll be time for the team to ship them off.
Sergei Bobrovsky is seemingly as good as gone after this season from the sound of rumors and as a result, the Jackets should look the end the “Bob era” sooner rather than later. While there isn’t a great replacement for the starting role on the roster, it wouldn’t be hard to acquire a goalie like Jaroslav Halak, Cam Talbot or Semyon Varlamov who may be more likely to want to stay.
Even if they were to leave, you’d get more for Bobrovsky than you’d have to give up for any of those three and as a result the Jackets would technically “make a profit” and lose a worse player for free rather than a star.
It’s highly likely that the Sergei Bobrovsky era will end by the trade deadline and while it will hurt fans, it will be the right move for the foreseeable future.
Even without Bobrovsky, assuming the Jackets can find a decent replacement on the trade market they’ll be a playoff team. Regardless, with Bobrovsky’s playoff record it may be beneficial to have a new masked face in goal for the post-season.
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Despite a big change in net, the team’s success shouldn’t be hurt too badly. While it seems like it would be a major change, stepping back from an elite netminder to a regular “starting goaltender” with a team like the Columbus Blue Jackets it shouldn’t hurt as much as it would seem on paper.