Bobrovsky up for two NHL awards

LAS VEGAS — Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky said it already has been a long offseason, even though Tuesday was officially the first day of summer.

The way the Blue Jackets bowed out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs — and the way Bobrovsky struggled against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins — has been the source of the bitterness.

“It took some time (to get over it) already, but it has been tough,” Bobrovsky said. “I’ll be thinking about that for a long time. It was really tough.”

Maybe this will help: Bobrovsky is a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the NHL’s most valuable player, and the Vezina Trophy, given to the league’s top goaltender.

Both awards will be presented Wednesday night in Las Vegas.

“To be in line with these awards with those great names … it’s something special,” Bobrovsky said. “It’s fun to be here in this atmosphere.”

Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid are the other Hart finalists, and Washington’s Braden Holtby and Montreal’s Carey Price are in the running for the Vezina.

Bobrovsky went 44-17-5 with a .931 save percentage and 2.06 goals-against average, becoming only the second goaltender in NHL history with 40-plus wins and a save percentage over .930.

“We don’t go anywhere this season without Bob,” Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said. “I hope he enjoys himself, and I hope he gets some hardware.”

Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella is a finalist for the Jack Adams Awards, along with Toronto’s Mike Babcock and Edmonton’s Todd McLellan. Tortorella, guided the Blue Jackets to a franchise-best 50 wins and 108 points.

Also, Blue Jackets rookie defenseman Zach Werenski is a candidate for the Calder Memorial Trophy, along with Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine.