New York Islanders Chasing Sergei Bobrovsky Makes No Sense

The New York Islanders are said to be in on unrestricted free agent Artemi Panarin. But they might also be in on Sergei Bobrovsky. A link that makes little sense.

The New York Islanders still haven’t re-signed captain Anders Lee and goalie Robin Lehner. Both are now able to talk with other teams on a potential deal. Both want to stay with the Islanders, but nothing seems to be happening.

And according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Freidman, that means the New York Islanders are chasing unrestricted free agents and former Columbus Blue Jackets teammates Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.

While being linked to Panarin makes sense for the New York Islanders, being linked to goalie Sergei Bobrovsky doesn’t make any sense at all.

What About Robin Lehner?

Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner with a career 2.46GAA and a 0.919SV% and 255 NHL wins to his name. He’s clearly a top-quality goalie.

But. Bobrovsky turns 31 years old on September 20th. He just had a sub-par season with a 2.58GAA and a 0.913SV%. And his previous deal held a $7.425 AAV.

Let’s just entertain the notion that the New York Islanders actually sign Sergei Bobrovsky. Any deal the New York Islanders give Bobrovsky is going to be no less than $8 million per season on as long a term as possible.

Now, let’s entertain the contract the New York Islanders could offer Robin Lehner.

The Islanders goalie has averaged a 2.70GAA and a 0.918SV% over his NHL career and has 97 career wins to his name. Lehner will turn 28-years-old in July.

Lehner also wants nothing more than to stay with the New York Islanders where he just recorded a 2.13GAA and 0.930SV% season and finished third in Vezina voting. Lehner is even willing to take a short-term deal to stay with the Islanders.

Also, think about the AAV that Lehner might get. Lehner is obviously going to get an upgrade on his previous deal with the Islanders that paid him $1.5 million. But there’s no conceivable way that Lehner’s AAV reaches what Bobrovsky is likely to receive.

With that being said, it makes no sense for the New York Islanders to chase after Bobrovsky.

Lehner is younger, he’s going to be cheaper, and he can accommodate the Islanders need for flexibility between the pipes. Not to mention that Lehner just had a career year playing with the Islanders.

He may not have a 0.930SV% season yet again, but he’s definitively proven that he can be an NHL caliber starter. What more could the Islanders want?

It makes no sense to go after Bobrovsky when the New York Islanders already have a goalie that can fulfill their need for a starter. They can also get that starter for less on the cap and less in term and that starter wants nothing more than to stay on the Island.

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There is no reason to entertain the notion of signing Bobrovsky, even if bring in the Russian netminder also allows the Islanders to bring in Artemi Panarin.