Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky’s incredible contract year has given him options as he faces restricted free agency this summer.
The Jackets’ 2012-13 Vezina Trophy nominee is negotiating with both Columbus and SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League, according to a report Friday from Slava Malamud of Russian daily Sport-Express:
Bobrovsky is coming off a three-year deal with the Jackets that paid him just $1.75 million per season. But his performance this year is cause for a significant raise. He elevated Columbus out of the NHL basement with a 21-11-6 record, .932 save percentage, 2.00 goals-against average and four shoutouts.
The 24-year-old native of Novokuznetsk, Russia, played superbly for SKA during the lockout. In 24 games overseas, he went a remarkable 18-3-2 with four shutouts.