Tuesday night saw the Columbus Blue Jackets drop another game past regulation to the New York Islanders, this time with Joonas Korpisalo in net. However, Korpisalo is proving, even in his losses, that he has the ability to be a full time NHL-level goaltender for next season, and possibly years to come.
Joonas Korpisalo Showing NHL Potential
With the shootout loss to the Islanders, his record drops to 7-6-3 on the season, and yet he’s still impressing all who watch him. He has a very solid save percentage, regardless of what you think is acceptable, for a rookie goaltender well above the accepted .910, and all reports see him as improving from here on out. However, his statistics don’t say everything, as performances like last night and February 5 against the Flames, where he saved 30 of 31 shots, show how he is capable of being the main man between the pipes in Columbus come next season. And, in the six games leading up to last night against the Islanders, he was 4-1-1, with a save percentage of .936 and a 2.36 GAA.
With this season being yet another injury-ridden one for Sergei Bobrovsky, it’s starting to open the door to newer, younger, and healthier options for the Blue Jackets. Bobrovsky, who’s currently carrying a $7.425 cap hit per year, would be a big name to move, but would surely have many suitors come the offseason when he is fully healthy again. Due to his injury being a current issue, and Columbus not wanting to overload Korpisalo, moving him any time before the summer would be a massive mistake for the development of the young, and promising, goaltender. Korpisalo, who is on a much smaller contract than Bobrovsky, would only over a cap hit of $471,048 next year and an equally small $742,500 the following season. These small cap hits would allow Columbus to spend the money freed up by dealing Bobrovsky to shop around in free agency for a difference maker. Korpisalo would also end his current contract as a restricted free agent, which only adds to the ever-growing list of “pros” to why he would be the best option moving forward.
Even when you stray from looking at all of the statistics of his impressive play, and how much better of a contract he is on than that of Bobrovsky, there are so many obvious points as to his future ability. When watching him from his first start this season to last night’s performance against the Islanders, you can see the massive steps forward in his development.
Head coach John Tortorella had some strong words in yesterday’s pre-game press conference, and ones that Bobrovsky should be listening to closely:
“This is how it works at any position,” said Tortorella. “A kid comes up, shows you what he has, and then as the injured guys come back – the guys whose injuries gave him that chance – maybe you have to make some decisions along the way.” And he continued on to add “Korpi has not only opened the door, he’s pushed it open. Fully open. So we’ll make that call when we come to it.”
These are words that some may choose not to read into much, but if there wasn’t a meaning behind them, then why would Tortorella even say them? Maybe because he’s deciding on giving the young man the chance to be an NHL goaltender over hoping Bobrovsky will ever find his pre-inury form again.
As the season moves on, and the offseason draws closer, these possibilities will grow clearer and clearer. And one can only hope for the best for all parties, as Columbus strives to continue to improve under coach Tortorella.
Korpisalo was the 62nd overall pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets and has NHL goalie size, at 6’3″ and 183 pounds. He was born in Pori, Finland and was born on April 28th, 1994, making him currently one of the youngest starting goalies in the NHL.
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