IF CBJ Trade Korpisalo, These Are The Two Teams I See Taking Him For Fair Value

Rumors are swirling again like cotton candy in a machine that Joonas Korpisalo could be traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets, again.  Normally I don't speculate, but there are signs this could be happening.  So, given we have a transportation day today, as the team fly's from Canada to Columbus, Oh, let's dive into this theory.   

We're going to start with Korpisalo's stats first.  Last season (2020-21) his Save Percentage was a fair .897%.  Last season many people weren't impressed with this, regarding trading, especially for what the team wanted in return for the goaltender.  So, this season with his 3-4-0 record his Save Percentage is actually lower, .880%.  It might not sound like a significant shift, but in the world of NHL goaltending, it is.  

Going into teams who could want Joonas Korpisalo, and give the Blue Jackets a fair trade, one team has already counted themselves out.  I've seen multiple headlines stating that the Sabres are not interested,  With them out we look toward the other teams, in the NHL, who currently don't have the best record and are looking to turn around their season.  A good goaltender can easily make this happen.  There are several teams who could be looking to do such, however, two stand out to me.  In my mind, these two teams would be the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks.  

The Flyers are currently 11-8-4.  Not too bad, but when you consider the stacked Metropolitan Division they are in, the team is currently 7th out of the 8 teams.  The only team below them is the Islanders, who pulled out their first win in a month last night against the Sabres, wining 5-3.  So, why the Flyers for Korpisalo?  We traded Cam Atkinson to them this summer, and did get a fairly helpful player in return for his impressive skill.  Of course, this is the one and only Jakub Voracek.  The man has had a staggering 19 points in his 23 NHL games this season.  The man should be called the "Assist King" at this point, as all but one of those points are assists.  End point, they aren't having the best season and their last transaction with us, paid off.  Like it or not.  

Now, the Blackhawks have also been very useful for us, regarding trade transactions.  Again, like it or not, we traded Seth Jones to them the night of the 2021 NHL Draft.  In return we got a few draft picks, scattered between the 2021 Draft and also the 2022 Draft.  We also received Adam Boqvist, who has had 9 total points (6 goals and 3 assists) in only 16 games this season.  Considering he's missed a few games while on IR, I consider this well done.  Regarding Draft Picks, we got their 12th overall in 2021, while they took our number 32nt overall.  This is as significant as you get, I think, as we used that 12th pick overall to get Cole Sillinger.  The youngest player, and only player, to be playing in the NHL, right now.  So, more or less, mic drop.  

We got a lot from both the Flyers and the Blackhawks, in exchange for what we gave them, it's more fair than I feel most of us expected.  This is the main reason, along with their poorer starts to the 2021-22 NHL Season, that I think they could be willing to make another deal.  Korpisalo may not be the best goaltender in the NHL, however, with a strong defense any goaltender can improve.  He's had some bad games, yes, but all goaltenders do.  The point is, his three winning games, were very good performances.  Show that to any team, make a reasonable offer, and a Korpisalo trade is likely to any team, not just the two I've outlined above.  

If Korpisalo is traded it would be sad to see another player, of many years, leave Columbus.  However, he might find better luck, and more games, elsewhere.  We'll just have to wait and see what comes from his extended, and unfortunate, IR placement.  Again, this is all just speculation at this time.  If a development occurs I will inform you 5th Line. 

Go CBJ!      


Sources:

https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/k/korpijo01.html

https://www.nhl.com/player/jakub-voracek-8474161

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31870883/chicago-blackhawks-acquire-seth-jones-columbus-blue-jackets

https://www.nhl.com/player/adam-boqvist-8480871

https://theathletic.com/news/2021-nhl-draft-blue-jackets-emerge-as-big-winners-of-first-round/MgykfzgRsuok/

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