With the second half of the Columbus Blue Jackets season getting back underway Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, there's an interesting storyline to monitor.
Joonas Korpisalo's trade value.
We touched on this in November as trade rumors surrounding Korpisalo began bubbling to the surface, and we revisited the odds of Blue Jackets trades in January.
Before the season started, it was clear which way the front office leaned, believing enough in what they had with Elvis Merzlikins to give him a five-year extension.
As one would expect when a player is given a contract extension, Merzlikins has received the lion's share of starts, and we've grown accustomed to more great performances than not. This basically assumes Korpisalo, a pending UFA following the end of the 2021-22 season, is the odd man out.
Brian Hedger had a one-on-one with GM Jarmo Kekalainen in The Columbus Dispatch covering an array of Blue Jackets topics, who had this to say about Korpisalo's future with the club.
I don't want to speculate on Korpi. Korpi’s been a great soldier for us. We love him. At some point, you have to make decisions on players because they're becoming (unrestricted free agents), and just like with any other player — defenseman, forward or goalie — we're gonna have to make those decisions. But they're not easy ones like you saw last year with a couple of the great players that we had to part ways with. But sometimes it's necessary to make those decisions. And we will in due time if it looks like the future is not together.
Of course, Kekalainen won't tip his hand ahead of the Mar. 21 trade deadline.
On the season, Korpisalo has played in 18 games, starting 14 of them, and has a 6-8-0 record with a 3.82 GAA and .887 SV%.
Korpisalo's GSAA (-11.8) is second-worst among all goaltenders in the league, only ahead of Seattle Kraken's Philipp Grubauer (-18.47).
Korpisalo also dealt with illness in December which helped pave the way for Daniil Tarasov to make his NHL debut and impressed mightily in a handful of starts before going down with an injury.
Tarasov could be a backup to Merzlikins in a post-Korpisalo world for the Blue Jackets for the rest of this season. And almost assuredly next season. In a small sample size, that looks like a great tandem for the Blue Jackets moving forward.
Current aspects the Blue Jackets must consider with their goaltending situation: How and when Brad Larsen and the Blue Jackets opt to deploy Korpisalo in games over the next month.
Joonas Korpisalo a jeho lapaka! @BlueJacketsNHL | #CBJ | #Korpisalo pic.twitter.com/UBuYYIx5Ar
— NHL esko (@NHLcz) January 28, 2022
Ideally, you hope to boost his performance in situations versus favorable opponents in an effort to showcase his play while increasing his trade value.
Looking at the schedule ahead of the trade deadline, there are a few teams scheduled on the docket this week which could be great opportunities for Korpisalo to get some time in as the Blue Jackets visit the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens on Thursday and Saturday respectively.
February Schedule
Feb. 8 @ Capitals
Feb. 10 @ Sabres
Feb. 12 @ Canadiens
Feb. 15 @ Flames
Feb. 17 @ Blackhawks
Feb. 20 Sabres
Feb. 22 Maple Leafs
Feb. 24 @ Panthers
Feb. 25 @ Hurricanes
Feb. 27 Penguins
Korpisalo is 2-0-0 against both the Sabres and Montreal Canadiens already this season, allowing four goals in a wild 7-4 victory over Buffalo on Nov. 22, and then more recently when the Blue Jackets defeated the Canadiens 6-3 on Jan. 30.
Other matchups that make sense for Korpisalo to play in could be at the United Center against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 17, and then when they wrap up with the Sabres at Nationwide Arena on Feb. 20.
Not that Korpisalo will play in all of those games, but on paper, those are among the more favorable matchups.
The Blue Jackets will face playoff contenders including the Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes — a back-to-back situation on Feb. 24-25 would make one of those games a probable — and finish the month against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The March portion of the schedule is also rather difficult but there are a few games that stand out.
March Schedule
Mar. 1 Devils
Mar. 4 Kings
Mar. 5 Bruins
Mar. 7 Maple Leafs
Mar. 10 @ Islanders
Mar. 11 Wild
Mar. 13 Golden Knights
Mar. 16 @ Senators
Mar. 17 Capitals
Mar. 19 Blues
Mar. 21 Trade Deadline
Korpisalo is 2-1-0 (2.62 GAA, .917 SV%) against the Devils this season. Then there are three back-to-back opportunities with the Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins Mar. 4-5 at Nationwide Arena, the New York Islanders, and Minnesota Wild Mar. 10-11, and then culminating with the Ottawa Senators and Capitals Mar. 16-17.
We'll soon know how the Blue Jackets operate the upcoming trade deadline.
Meanwhile, trade speculation only figures to increase with the deadline over a month away, and there being quite a few teams around the league in the market hoping to add an experienced goaltender for the stretch run and playoffs.
