Old North Banter
Fansided

Top 5 Free Agents the Carolina Hurricanes should target

By Christian Candeloro

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next

1. Sergei Bobrovsky

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 04: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 04: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

The highest profile free agent of the 2019 offseason, Bobrovsky has earned the right to a massive payday. The two-time Vezina award winner willed the Blue Jackets to the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs with his excellent play in 2018-19.

Bobrovsky has been a model of consistency in net for the Blue Jackets since being traded in 2012 (which may have been the trade of the decade by the Blue Jackets). The 6’2″ netminder has hovered between a .910 and .930 save percentage and never went above a 2.75 GAA in his seven seasons in Columbus. His best season came in 2016-17, when he went 41-17-5 and posted a 2.06 GAA.

He has however overall, struggled immensely in the postseason, as he holds an 11-18 record with a 3.04 GAA. He played much better this year and that should alleviate fears of him being able to lead a team to the Stanley Cup.

The Hurricanes will need to see how much money is left over after Aho signs and figure out if Bobrovsky can fit in the budget. Signing Bobrovsky would instantly give Carolina a top-five goaltender room in the NHL. There aren’t many opportunities to add a bona-fide top tier starter like Bobrovsky and if the Canes are serious about overhauling their goalie situation, Bobrovsky has to be the pick.

Home/Carolina Hurricanes