Bobrovsky Traded to the Blue Jackets for Draft Picks
Sergei Bobrovsky has been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets (Photo by Mike Darnay)
By: Tyler J. Altemose (@TJamesAltemose)
In a deal confirmed by Darren Dreger of TSN, the Philadelphia Flyers have traded goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for draft picks.
The Flyers acquired a second and fourth round pick (45th and 117th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft as well as a fourth round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. None of the picks, however, were exclusively Columbus’.
The acquired 45th overall pick in 2012 was acquired by the Blue Jackets via the Phoenix Coyotes via the Ottawa Senators. On 22 February, 2012, the Blue Jackets sent forward Antoine Vermette to the Coyotes in exchange for minor league goaltender Curtis McElhinney, a conditional draft pick in 2013, and the 45th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.
The condition on the remaining pick was that Phoenix wins at least one round in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. That condition was converted on 23 April 2012 when the Coyotes eliminated the Chicago Blackhawks. That draft pick—the Phoenix Coyotes-turned Blue Jackets fourth round pick in 2012—now also belongs to the Flyers.
The acquired 117th overall pick is courtesy of the Vancouver Canucks. It was acquired by the Blue Jackets in a deal that sent forward Sammy Pahlsson to the Canucks in exchange for the 95th overall (New York Islanders) and the 117th over pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.
After playing four professional seasons with Mettalurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL, Sergei Bobrovsky was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers as an undrafted goaltender. Bobrovsky had a promising 2011-12 campaign with the Flyers, finishing the season with a .915 save percentage and a 2.73 goals-against average throughout 53 games—a workload much more strenuous than he was used to and to a North American style of hockey in which he had to adjust.
However, Bobrovsky struggled in 2011-12, finishing the season with a .899 save percentage and 3.02 goals-against average throughout just twenty-nine games. Overshadowed by starting goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, acquired prior to the 2011-12 season, and unable to be sent down to the AHL for conditioning due to waiver rules, the Flyers found themselves in a tight spot regarding what to do with Bobrovsky.
That decision came to a head this afternoon when the Flyers traded him to the Blue Jackets for the 45th and 117th overall picks in the 2012 NHL Draft as well as a fourth round pick in 2013.
The Flyers will have seven picks at this year’s draft. They will retain their own first, fourth, fifth, and seventh round picks. They own a Blue Jackets’ second round pick (via Phoenix via Ottawa), the Sharks’ third round pick (via Florida), and a Blue Jackets fourth round pick (via Phoenix).
For a more in-depth look at the picks the Flyers have at the 2012 NHL Draft prior to this deal, check out this article.
