Flyers Sergei Bobrovsky now Caught in Swirling Trade Rumors

Just as recent as this winter, Sergei Bobrovsky was touted as the Flyers goaltender of the future. However a treacherous spring campaign seemed to completely relinquish and hope the Flyers brass had that Bob would be their starter come October.

This is an unfair picture.

Only a month after the Flyers were swept by the Boston Bruins in their second round playoff match up the organization took a step in solidifying their presence in net. The team traded for the rights of the top free agent netminder in this year's market, Ilya Bryzgalov, who spent four seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes.

From an instant everyone wondered how the Flyers could manipulate their roster to allow room for Bryzgalov to fit soundly seeing as he wants to be paid upwards of 5 million. Then the question of length wore on, how long will Bryzgalov want or more important how long do the Flyers want him in Philly?

Here is a quote from Bryzgalov's stolen right from the recorder of Sam Carchidi himself:

"I am pleased the Flyers thought enough of me to make the trade with the Coyotes," Bryzgalov said in a statement. "Philadelphia is a great city, a great organization, and a great team with a rich history. I am looking forward to meeting with Paul Holmgren to discuss the possibility of us working together for many years to come."

So say both the Flyers and Bryzgalov decide that a long term deal is for the best, what will happen to young 23 year old Sergei Bobrovsky?

Bobrovsky had a stellar rookie campaign clocking out with 28 wins and a 2.59 goals against average. (It wasn't until Bryzgalov's eighth year in the league that he reached that plateau.) There is always a market for a young goalie with stellar potential, so if the Flyers decide to move him there will be plenty of suitors making for a hefty return.

Up until I started writing this I could not find any reason why the Flyers would start picking away at their core to sign this Bryzgalov fellow. But as I sit back and think about Bryzgalov's gaudy numbers, excellent positioning and above average speed, I can only wonder how long it would take young Sergei Bobrovsky to get to his level of play.

The Flyers organization, as I criticized in my last post, has been completely neglecting their future. Maybe this will be the start of them dishing out the present and reaching for the always uncertain future.

Florida Panthers

Tallon as GM of the Hawks.

If Bobrovsky goes their will be plenty of suitors, as stated earlier. The main team I look to is the Florida Panthers. The Panthers and new GM Dale Tallon have been accurately or inaccurately  connected to the Flyers Kris Versteeg. Tallon traded for Versteeg and watched him grow into the player he is today. Florida also does have a former Blackhawk on their roster, Jack Skille.

The second reason I would expect Florida to be in the running, their star goaltender Tomas Vokoun is set to be an unrestricted free agent. The Panthers have Scott Clemmensen signed but he's a backup at this point in his career, they also have their top prospect Jacob Markstrom signed, however he has just one game of NHL experience. Bobrovsky would undoubtedly become the top goalie in Florida for years to come.

The potential deal may include Sergei Bobrovsky and Kris Versteeg for a young defenseman, given the 2012 Flyers free agent class, and a draft pick Florida a top pick, which I would be shocked if they moved. The Flyers need any draft picks at this point with their first pick coming in the 4th round of this year's draft.

Columbus Blue Jackets

A team the continues to come up in Flyers trade rumors is the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets are and have been since drafting Rick Nash in 2002 searching for a top line center man to compliment Nash. The rumor of Jeff Carter heading to the Columbus Blue Jackets came about ast offseason and is back again this one.

Now Bobrovsky's name is coming up in the rumor as well. Last week it came out that the Flyers top target was Steve Mason, Columbus's goaltender, but they could not reach a deal with the team and decided to move onto to Ilya Bryzgalov. As the chain continues the Flyers may send both Jeff Carter and Sergei Bobrovsky to Columbus for what presumably would be Jacob Voracek, Steve Mason, and a 1st rounder.

I will cover this rumor and any others further as more develops.