While the Flames could certainly benefit from a goaltending upgrade with starter Mike Smith struggling considerably to start the season, it doesn’t appear that Blue Jackets pending UFA Sergei Bobrovsky is an option for them. In an appearance on Sportsnet 960 (audio link), Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested that Calgary isn’t on the list of teams that Bobrovsky would be willing to waive his no-move clause for. Smith has just a .876 save percentage so far this season which is the worst of his career by a significant margin and while backup David Rittich has played quite well, it would be difficult for the Flames to ask him to take over as the number one given that he only has 30 career NHL games under his belt. However, if Calgary wants to make a move to help their goaltending, it doesn’t appear that they’ll be turning to Columbus for help.
Elsewhere in the West:
- Ducks winger Patrick Eaves was transferred to injured reserve earlier in the week with an upper-body injury. Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register notes (Twitter link) that it’s actually a back injury that the 34-year-old is dealing with. It has been a rough start to 2018-19 for Eaves as he missed the start of the year with a shoulder issue and has played in just five games so far this season.
- While the hope was that Stars defenseman John Klingberg would only miss a month, that timeline has been extended already. Head coach Jim Montgomery told Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News that his top blueliner will be out at least five weeks and potentially more. Meanwhile, Connor Carrick was expected to miss roughly three weeks as of late October due to a lower-body injury but DeFranks notes he’s still a few weeks away from returning which suggests he’s behind schedule in his recovery. Fortunately for Dallas, Marc Methot is nearing a return and could play as early as Wednesday.
Methot returning for Dallas isn’t fortunate. He’s no longer a good NHL player. These young kids they’ve brought up(Gleason,Bayreuther, Hanley to an extent) have more than held their own. Stephen Johns is the one who the stars really need to get back quickly.
Agree 100%. Methot is just too slow.
If we ever get Klinger, Carrick, and Johns healthy at once, I want to see Carrick get some time on the wing and see what happens.
Esa-Klinger
Miro-Johns
Any of the rookies-Polack
Give Carrick some time at the wing and put Nichuskin in the press box or even send him down to the AHL.
Honka as well. Not sure how I left him out.
Short experiment if they can’t adapt or injuries continue to pile up.