Howson reflects on Bobrovsky trade

Scott Howson, via The Edmonton Journal, reflects on his former job as the GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets and how the deal to acquire Sergei Bobrovsky came about.

The June 22, 2025 trade, incidentally, was Bobrovsky to Columbus from the Flyers for second and fourth round picks in 2012 and a fourth round pick in 2013.

“We were determined to get a goalie to play with Mason and there were four goalies available then. Lindback was one of them but he went to Tampa before the draft. They were all very close. Nobody knew who was going to emerge,” said Howson, now the Oilers’ senior VP of hockey ops.

“Bobrovsky was coming off a year playing behind Bryzgalov, and he wasn’t great, so we didn’t have to give up a player. The year before in the playoffs, as a rookie, he got bumped after a great season, so his (Flyers GM Paul Holmgren) bargaining position wasn’t as you’d think.

"We were in the right spot because we were a Western team. He didn’t want him playing in the East, now Columbus is in the East.”

Source: Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal