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Sergei Bobrovsky is returning to Columbus after signing a two-year deal with the Blue Jackets. The 2013 Vezina Trophy winner agreed to a two-year contract with Columbus that will pay him nearly $6 million annually, according to Bob McKenzie.
Columbus acquired Bobrovsky from the Flyers prior to last season after the Russian struggled through two seasons in Philadelphia. But as soon as Bobrovsky pulled on a Blue Jackets sweater, he was phenomenal.
Bobrovsky went 21-11-6 in 2013 with a .932 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average. He was the centerpiece of the Blue Jackets' strong finish to the regular season and their biggest reason to believe that their play at the end of the season would carry over to 2013-14.
The contract negotiations for Bobrovsky were rocky, with the two sides starting so far apart that there were rumors he may not return to Columbus. He reportedly had an offer from a team in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League that would pay more $10 million annually and it was speculated that the Blue Jackets might trade him instead of re-signing him to what they believed was an outsized contract. But shortly after those rumors surfaced, the Blue Jackets made progress with their goaltender and now have their man between the pipes for the next two years.
