Edited Jan. 23 at 8:41 p.m.
I just don't think Broberg is a piece of interest for Columbus. The defensive depth chart is stacked already, and long term it looks like Werenski, Jiricek, Severson (for better or worse), Mateychuk, and then the bottom pair is two of Bean, Blankenburg, Peeke, Boqvist, Gudbranson, Svozil, Ceulemans, Christiansen, or any number of other outside shots, all of whom have played in the NHL or AHL this season. Maybe Broberg becomes the 3rd-pair guy long term? But that's probably the best outcome.
If Columbus is just going to buy out a goalie in the offseason...yeah, it makes sense to trade for the cheaper one
theoretically. But a Merzlikins buyout only costs $1.5M more lifetime in real money and $450K against the cap
lifetime compared to Campbell's, who would have a higher cap hit in 2025-26. That and a defensive prospect you don't need just is not something you trade a 3rd for, especially when the goalie coming back can't make it in the AHL currently.
The better option is to just keep Merzlikins for the rest of the year, let him prove he's a starting-caliber goaltender, and hope someone takes him for a mid or late round pick and a shorter-term cap dump. Plan B is to just buy him out anyway.
If Edmonton is dead set on making Elvis their goaltender this year, Columbus certainly isn't sending any picks back, and something more significant has to come our way.
Edit: I forgot about Provorov, who I see as a Mateychuk placeholder