The NHL's silly season is upon us.
We know the Columbus Blue Jackets want to add scoring.
We know many teams are dealing with the implications of a "flat" salary cap, and the potential for serious player movement over the next few weeks is strong.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen has two young goalies, Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins, signed to team-friendly deals and who have been rumored as possible trade pieces this offseason. During Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading" on TSN, Pierre LeBrun said Columbus is open-minded when it comes to dealing a goaltender.
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"Columbus is listening on their two goalies....both who had breakout years. The reason for it is, eventually there won't be enough net for both of these guys," LeBrun said. "If they do move (one of them), they'd like to acquire a top-two center."
That's a high price for a young goaltender, but as LeBrun noted, both Korpisalo and Merzlikins (rightly so) see themselves as No. 1 goalies. There's only so long you can proceed with two players who desperately want the net, especially when you're as starved for offense as the Blue Jackets are.
What we shouldn't expect, however, is a move simply for the sake of a move. Kekalainen should be comfortable now, in the weeks ahead, and in the months ahead, if he has both players on his roster. But if a team looking for an upgrade in net has a potential match, it's a deal that makes too much sense not to make.
