For the second time this season, a prominent NHL media member has called the Columbus Blue Jackets' relationship with Sergei Bobrovsky, and perhaps more specifically, his camp, "untenable."
In October, it was Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman who labeled the situation as such in his popular weekly column, 31 Thoughts.
And on Wednesday night, NHL Network's Kevin Weekes had that and more to say about the Blue Jackets' star netminder on NHL On The Fly:
Is it possible for #CBJ to retain Sergei Bobrovsky?@KevinWeekes provides us with some insight. #NHLOnTheFly pic.twitter.com/JSrmXzdlAT
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) December 12, 2018
"I'm told it's becoming untenable...I know that it seems as though the relationship has deteriorated right now, at this point."
It's worth noting that Bobrovsky and Weekes share the same agent, Paul Theofanous (h/t Aaron Portzline). Bobrovsky's prior contract talks with the Blue Jackets were contentious, to say the least. You can read more about that here. It's a foregone conclusion that Theofanous will remember those difficult negotiations in what's now Round 3 of contract talks with Jarmo Kekalainen...should it even get to that point. Weekes all but referenced Theofanous without saying his name.
"Based on what I'm told from the Bobrovsky camp - and not Sergei himself - is this relationship has really deteriorated. So now the challenge for the Jackets is: can they repair that? Is it possible or is it irreparable damage at this point? Are they able to salvage that relationship, can they find a common path going forward, or does it continue going... down the path of no return."
The fact that two notable hockey media members have used the word "untenable" to describe the relationship between Bobrovsky and the Blue Jackets says plenty about the situation. As they say: where there's smoke, there's often fire.
Stay with us at 1st Ohio Battery as the Bobrovsky story continues to unfold.
