Flyers trade Bobrovsky to Blue Jackets

PITTSBURGH - Sergei Bobrovsky, who looked like the Flyers' goalie of the future after a strong first half in the 2010-11 season, was traded to Columbus on Friday for three draft picks, including a second-rounder.

In addition to the 45th overall choice, which will be taken Saturday, the Flyers received a fourth-rounder (117th) this year and a fourth-rounder, originally owned by Phoenix, in 2013.

The first round was held Friday in Pittsburgh, whose fans loudly booed when the Flyers were introduced during roll call. The second through seventh rounds will be Saturday.

The Flyers did not have a second-round pick this year before the deal with Columbus.

"Bob is a very good goalie, and he's going to do very well and have a great opportunity in Columbus," said Peter Luukko, president of the Flyers' parent company, Comcast-Spectacor. "Ilya Bryzgalov is our No. 1 goalie. I think this is something that works out well for everyone."

The Flyers now are in the market for a backup. Marty Biron - who is close friends with Danny Briere - Scott Clemmensen, Antero Niittymaki, Dan Ellis, Ray Emery, and Jonas Gustavsson are among the goalies expected to become free agents on July 1. Biron, Emery, and Niittymaki are former Flyers.

Bobrovsky, signed as free agent in 2010, was the Flyers' No. 1 goalie two years ago and had a solid rookie season, going 28-13-8 with a 2.59 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.

But he slipped in the second half of the season, and the Flyers acquired the rights to Bryzgalov and signed him to a nine-year, $51 million deal.

Bobrovsky, a 23-year-old Russian, struggled mightily last season, going 14-10-2 with a 3.02 GAA and .899 save percentage. He never seemed comfortable in his backup role.

In Columbus, Bobrovsky will battle Steve Mason for the starting job.

The Flyers aren't done talking with the Blue Jackets, a source confirmed Friday.

They are still having conversations with Columbus general manager Scott Howson about a deal for Rick Nash, a star left winger with a $7.8 million cap hit through 2017-18.

The Flyers also are in talks with Anaheim about bringing South Jersey product Bobby Ryan ($5.1 million cap hit through 2014-15) back home. The right winger, a Cherry Hill native who said last year he would like to play in Philadelphia, has scored more than 30 goals in each of the last four seasons.

In other developments, a source said it was "highly unlikely" the Flyers would sign an offer sheet when Nashville defenseman Shea Weber becomes a restricted free agent on July 1. Nashville would have the right to match any offer and keep Weber.

As for potential unrestricted free agents, the Flyers have most of their interest in left winger Zach Parise, defenseman Ryan Suter, and defenseman Justin Schultz, who was drafted by Anaheim in 2008 but did not sign. A star at Wisconsin, Schultz is regarded as a "can't-miss" prospect and believed to be NHL-ready; he would give the Flyers a much-needed righthanded shot on defense.