For months, the Columbus Blue Jackets and their fanbase knew that star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was bound for free agency and was all but guaranteed not to return.
Speculation grew that Bobrovsky and fellow Russian Artemi Panarin could find their way in a packaged deal to Florida and transform the Panthers into a playoff team.
Only Bobrovsky ended up signing in Flordia, with Panarin opting to sign in the Big Apple with the Rangers.
Was there ever a chance Bob was going to re-sign in Columbus? According to Russian hockey reporter Igor Eronko's wife, who interviewed Bobrovsky for Russian publication Sport24.ru, "there was no chance," despite the team's best efforts.
Back in early January, the team suspended their No. 1 netminder after he left the team's bench to shower after getting pulled against the Tampa Bay Lightning. That didn't sit well with head coach John Tortorella and the management staff.
Bobrovsky detailed how the team tried to continue to sign him throughout the season despite notifying them that he would be leaving, as well as his rocky relationship with Torts.
*The following quote was translated through Google*
"I told the management after the 2017-18 season that I wouldn't stay at the club, they didn't react to that," said the goaltender. "On the contrary, they began to talk more about contract extension. Of course, you might think why I created the problem for myself by informing everyone in advance about the solution. But, on the other hand, the person I am, I honestly informed about my plans and did not play any backstage games. It would be harder for me to look in the mirror if I told everyone that I would stay first, and at the end I was leaving."
"Torts has his advantages and disadvantages," said Bobrovksy. "He is what he is... impulsive. He says what he thinks. In his position, he behaves as he considers correct. There were moments when, in the regular season, he praised. There were moments when he criticized. He could do it at a press conference or in the locker room with the team. I did not agree with his opinion and because of this we often had cheerful conversations on high tones.
"But he has many pluses too. The team started to play better after his arrival. He installed discipline. He demanded the maximum from each player. We started to make the playoffs regularly. He's also a skilled psychologist and a very strong motivator."
He finished the season with a 37-24-1 record and a .913 save percentage. In the Jackets' first-round victory against that same Lightning team, he only let in eight goals in the Jacket's four-game sweep.
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In seven years with Columbus, Bobrovsky won two Vezina Trophies (2012-13 & 2016-17) and compiled a record of 213-130-27 with a 2.41 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
Bobrovsky signed a seven-year, $70 million contract that includes a no-movement clause and a modified NTC that kicks in on July 1st, 2024.
