New York Islanders: Sergei Bobrovsky Trade Availability Update

Things got interesting in terms of the Sergei Bobrovsky’s trade availability. If the New York Islanders have genuine interest in the two time Vezina winner a window might have opened.

If the New York Islanders are looking for a true-and-true starter in nets then they have to check in on Columbus Blue Jacket’s Sergei Bobrovsky. Cause things just got interesting regarding his availability.

It seems that the two-time Vezina winner was told to stay home after he failed to meet the teams “expectations and values”. Whatever that means.

If you needed an indicator as to Sergei Bobrovsky’s tradability, this was it. With the trade deadline just over a month away teams must be calling Jarmo Kekalainen about his pending UFA goalie.

Top Tier Goalie

Sergei Bobrovsky’s skill is unquestionable. In his nine year NHL career he’s averaged a 0.919SV% and 2.47GAA. He was voted the league’s best goalie on two occasions (2012-13 and 2016-17).

Since 1982, only six goalies have won multiple Vezina trophies. Domink Hasek, Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, Ed Belfour, Tim Thomas, and Bobrovsky.

Again, Bobrovsky’s quality is unquestionable. And it’s clear that his time in Columbus is done. It’s not a question of ‘if’ he’ll leave but ‘how quickly’.

The latest situation is another wrinkle in what seems to be an increasingly toxic relationship between Bobrovsky and coach John Tortorella. Both seemingly don’t like each other.

The issue exactly still remains unclear. Obviously the Blue Jackets aren’t going to air internal grievances out in public like its Festivus. But according to the Athletic’s Aaron Portzline (subscription required) the issue may have taken place after the team flew home from Tampa.

"Sources told The Athletic that the incident happened sometime between the latter stages of Tuesday’s 4-0 loss in Tampa Bay and before the team flew home from Tampa International Airport an hour or so after the game.Before the Blue Jackets boarded their charter flight to Columbus, Bobrovsky was pulled aside for a meeting on the tarmac with members of the Blue Jackets’ leadership group, suggesting the incident happened at the rink or on the bus ride from the rink to the airport."

Acquiring Sergei Bobrovsky isn’t going to be cheap. Again, he’s a top tier goalie in the NHL with both his stats and his impressive trophy cabinet.

He’s also a pending unrestricted free agent there’s no guarantee that he signs a deal with the Islanders. And even if he does do the Islanders want to pay a now 30 year old goalie to a Carey Price like deal? (8 years $10.5 million AAV).

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I’m not so sure that’s something the New York Islanders should do. It’s a lot of money for long time. And at 30 who knows when his play starts to dip. But I can see the argument that Bobrovsky is so elite that you can’t let him slip. If Bobrovsky is someone Lou Lamoriello wants to pursue now’s the time to act.