Report: Huberdeau part of package deal to land Panarin and Bobrovsky

It’s not exactly a secret that Columbus Blue Jackets stars Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky are hot commodities on the trade market. For the past calendar year all signs have pointed to both players leaving the team via free agency and now it’s up to Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to find the best possible return for his two star pending UFAs.

Last week reports began to surface that indicated the Florida Panthers are interested in acquiring both Panarin and Bobrovsky, likely as a prelude to offering them both long-term, eight year contracts so as to scoop them up from other potential suitors on the free agent market.

It’s a move that certainly makes a lot of sense, especially in Bobrovsky’s case given that the Panthers’ starting goalie, Roberto Luongo, is now nearly 40 years old and has had injury issues the past two seasons. The Panthers are a much better hockey team than their record shows and goaltending can largely be to blame. Luongo has been good, even great, when healthy but his body is simply deteriorating to the point where he cannot be relied on to be a true #1 goalie for much longer. Backup James Reimer is simply inconsistent. It’s been the knock on him his entire career. Enter: Goalie Bob.

There’s no doubt that Bobrovsky would give the Panthers some stability in goal, but, as with any trade, it’ll ultimately come down to the asking price. The Blue Jackets would likely need a goalie in return, but Los Angeles Kings insider John Hoven reported last week that Kekalainen had been in discussion with Kings GM Rob Blake concerning goaltender Jonathan Quick. So… assuming the Blue Jackets don’t NEED to take on a goalie from the Panthers, what’s the return?

TSN insider Frank Seravalli reports that forward Jonathan Huberdeau could be one of the pieces moving to Columbus in exchange for Panarin and Bobrovsky. The 25 year old point-per-game winger has four years remaining at just $5.9 million and would slot into Panarin’s spot on the Blue Jackets’ top line nicely. Keep in mind that the Panthers would likely have to offer up a LOT more in addition to Huberdeau to land Panarin and Bobrovsky and suddenly things don’t look so bad for the Blue Jackets. Sure, losing Panarin and Bobrovsky will sting, but Huberdeau and Quick aren’t exactly chopped liver… and that’s saying nothing of the additional picks, prospects or players that they may receive as part of a trade package.