The Columbus Blue Jackets continue to see signs of hope in their goaltender depth, and it's coming at a great time.
In the wake of Sergei Bobrovsky's likely departure, the Blue Jackets have made a few moves in 2019 to secure their future between the pipes.
First, it was the signing of Elvis Merzlikins in March - the most probable to be dubbed franchise goaltender by the end of 2019-2020.
Why not add some insurance, though?
Veini Vehvilainen, a sixth-round pick for the Blue Jackets in 2018, signed a two-year entry-level contract with the club on June 4. On Saturday, he was given the Urpo Ylönen Award as the best goalie in Finland’s top league, for the second year in a row.
In 2017-2018 for Kärpät in Liiga, Vehvilainen put up 1.89 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. This past season, somehow, he raised his game to just allowing 1.55 goals per game and recorded a .933 SV%, along with a .939 in the playoffs.
It's unclear how much ice time the 22-year-old will see this upcoming season with the Blue Jackets with Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo likely being listed at the top of the depth chart for the club, but his value has surely taken a jump in the with his trophy shelf filling up.
