The Bob and Bread Saga

Columbus’ two Russian stars were both integral parts of the Blue Jackets’ 3-0 win over Metropolitan Division rival Washington Tuesday night. Former Vezina Trophy winner Segei Bobrovsky saved all 20 shots he faced against the defending Stanley Cup champs, and came up with some big saves late to preserve the shutout. Uber-talented forward Artemi Panarin put an exclamation point on the impressive home-ice performance with a long empty-net goal late in the third period. The win, their fourth in a row, moved Columbus into third place in the Metro, just two points behind the Capitals and four points behind the division-leading New York Islanders.

With the Blue Jackets right in the thick of the playoff race, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen faces a tough decision regarding Bobrovsky and Panarin, who are two major reasons why the Jackets are where they are. It’s been a bit of a bumpy season for Bobrovsky, one that has included some ugly performances and an incident that led to a one-game suspension by the team. However, he is still a top-end goaltender, and, despite his postseason struggles, the kind of goalie that could be an essential part of a late-season run. Panarin, or “Bread” as he is affectionately called (short for "Bread Man", his restaurant-inspired nickname), has continued to show why he is a top-end forward in the NHL, showcasing impressive all-around skills.

The tough decision Kekalainen must make is whether to trade Panarin and/or Bobrovsky before the February 25 deadline. Both are slated to be free agents this summer, and both have refused to enter into contract negotiations until after the season. Although his team is definitely in a position to be a buyer during the deadline, Jarmo might have to sell or risk losing two star players for nothing.

There are multiple directions Kekalainen could go. He could hold onto both players (as “in-house rentals”) to make a run at the Stanley Cup, but that seems unlikely. He could trade one and keep the other, with Bobrovsky being the most likely of the two to go. If he trades one or both, he could opt to acquire top prospects for the future, or more established NHL players to try to immediately make up for the talent lost.

Naturally, there have been several rumors surrounding the potential trade(s) of Bobrovsky and/or Panarin. Multiple teams are likely interested in one or the other (or both), either as a rental, or with the hopes that they can sign them to a multi-year contract following the season. The two Russians, who now both have the same agent, could be interested in teaming up again wherever they go next. The Blue Jackets are likely seeking a mixture of productive NHL-ers and top prospects close to the NHL in any return package for the players. The Florida Panthers have been mentioned as a team interested in Bobrovsky (and potentially Panarin), and the Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators have reportedly asked about Panarin, whose price is said to be extremely high.

If the Blue Jackets do trade Bobrovsky, which seems like the most likely scenario, they could try to acquire a veteran goaltender to replace him. Backup Joonas Korpisalo has been solid this season, but the Jackets would probably prefer to keep him as a backup. They also have 24-year-old top prospect Elvis Merzlikins waiting in the wings in the Swiss League, but he may not be quite ready yet. Columbus could look to bring back a goaltender as part of the package they get in return for Bobrovsky, or they could acquire a goalie in a separate deal. Goaltenders rumored to be of interest to the Jackets include Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Quick. The 34-year-old Howard has had a solid year playing for a bad Red Wings team and will be a free agent after this season. The 33-year-old Quick doesn't quite have the stats that Howard has this season, but the LA Kings netminder is a known commodity and is signed past this season. Neither option would come cheap, and they're probably not the only goalies Columbus is looking at.

If the Jackets trade Panarin, they could look to swing a deal for another productive forward to try to replace the gaping hole that Panarin would leave. Players such as Mark Stone or Matt Duchene of the Senators have been mentioned. The return package for Panarin will also likely include someone to replace some of the Bread Man's production. No matter what the Jackets do, Panarin's production and skills will be hard to replace.

Right now, it's hard to pinpoint what exactly the Blue Jackets will do. The odds that they will trade at least one of their talented Russians seems pretty high, and I would venture to guess that Bob is the most likely of the two to go. I am by no means an NHL expert, and I am definitely not qualified to work in a front office, but if I were the Jackets, I would trade Bobrovsky, try to acquire a veteran goaltender to replace him for the stretch run, and keep Panarin as an "in-house rental". Neither will be easy to replace, but I feel like there are more options to fill the void left by Bobrovsky, and I feel like Panarin will be more useful come playoff time than Bobrovsky, who has had some struggles in the postseason.

Whatever Jarmo and the Jackets do, it could alter the path of the franchise for years to come. With young stars such as Seth Jones and Cam Atkinson, it's important that the Blue Jackets make the right moves to surround them with other quality players. The decision the front office needs to make is whether they want to hold on to their high-profile free agents-to-be and hope for a playoff run (and maybe successful contract negotiations), or make sure they get something in return for their departing stars, even if it means taking a step back in the short-term. What happens in Columbus the next two weeks will be fascinating to watch.

Stats and info via Hockey Reference, NHL Trade Rumors and The Athletic