Fansided

5 moves the Blue Jackets can make to get back to the playoffs

By Kelsey Grace Pfeifer

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 19: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Artemi Panarin (9) looks on after a missed shot during game 4 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on April 19, 2018. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 19: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Artemi Panarin (9) looks on after a missed shot during game 4 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on April 19, 2018. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 23: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets makes a save in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals on April 23, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Washington defeated Columbus 6-3 to win the series 4-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sergei Bobrovsky
COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 23: Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets makes a save in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals on April 23, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Washington defeated Columbus 6-3 to win the series 4-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sergei Bobrovsky /

1. Stop relying on Bobrovsky

This is not a drill! Stop it! Stop it right now!

Bobrovsky was basically the reason the Blue Jackets had any shot at the playoffs. This guy is scary good in the net, fast paced, good eyes, reflexes on point.

It can be easy to forget that the goaltender plays all 60 minutes of a hockey game, usually without any relief whatsoever. But these guys are slaving and picking up mistakes for the five guys in front of them. Bobrovsky had an outstanding start to the playoffs, coming off of an incredibly respectable regulation season with a .921 save percentage. 

There are those who are always bridesmaids, and those who are always brides, and eventually, those brides are going to tire of saying “I do” every single night. Bobrovsky needs some backup before burnout hits him. He’s still got some mileage to go in the net, and the Blue Jackets need to keep him there as long as possible in order to stay competitive in the next few years.

This will come down to being smart with his salary. He’s worth a lot, both in money and heart for the Blue Jackets. The guys trust him… but probably a little too much.

A similar situation happened with the Capitals just before their playoff run, where Braden Holtby choked before Barry Trotz decided to start Philipp Grubauer (ironically, in the first two games against Columbus). Grubauer was a perfect backup, someone who realized he would never rise to Holtby’s fame with the Caps, but who could get a great deal to start if they won the Cup.

And that’s exactly how it worked out. So all the Jackets need to do is find a Grubauer, someone hungry to prove but ultimately content with not being a headline player at this time.

In a recent trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Blue Jackets acquired Jean-Francois Berube, who could be the answer to their prayers. He’s a decent sized goalie, and his save percentage for the 2017-18 year was .894, nothing to write home about, but super solid.

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If the Jackets can get Berube in tip-top shape for this upcoming season, they could be really dangerous. Allowing Bobrovsky time to rest and recoup a bit is not something opposing teams really want to hear about. They don’t want to stare down the net at someone on the top of their game.

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