Blue Jackets, Bobrovsky clear air, 'moving on' from incident
The Columbus Blue Jackets and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky are hoping to put a recent incident that saw the former Vezina Trophy winner benched Thursday in the rear-view mirror.
A day after the club announced Bobrovsky was being held out against the Nashville Predators for failing to meet certain "expectations and values," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen told TSN's Pierre LeBrun that the issue has been resolved and the Blue Jackets are "moving on" from the situation.
Speaking to reporters Friday, Kekalainen refused to divulge what exactly the incident entailed, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. The club's GM wouldn't comment on whether the team had asked Bobrovsky to waive his no-movement clause.
#CBJ GM Jarmo Kekalainen says meeting w Bobrovsky this morning was entire team, then evolved into players only. Expectation, he said, is to move on stronger as a team.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) January 11, 2019
Bobrovsky was back with his teammates at practice Friday and spoke to reporters at its conclusion.
"Tuesday night against Tampa was a tough loss for everybody, so ... it was emotional," Bobrovsky said. "We might play them in the playoffs. I let my emotions get to me when I shouldn't. So, yeah. We had the meeting with the team.
"I've been always ... I pride myself to be a good teammate all the time, wherever and whomever I've played. I addressed that to the team. It is what is it. What happened has happened. We cleaned the air and we're ready to move on. It's unfortunate for the fans, too, that it happened. But it's going to stay in the room and between us and that's it."
#CBJ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky takes the ice for practice this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/RkpdVRPgf2
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) January 11, 2019
Bobrovsky will travel with the team to Washington for a game against the Capitals on Saturday night, though Portzline notes there's no word yet on whether the Russian will get the start.