3 reasons why Elvis Merzlikins can become the goalie the Columbus Blue Jackets need
Outside of hiring a new head coach and having good luck in the NHL’s draft lottery, goaltending is the Blue Jackets’ most pressing concern for next season and beyond.
There is enough skill and talent for a rebound season with a roster that was decimated by injuries, but it won’t matter if Elvis Merzlikins continues to flounder as the Jackets’ No. 1 option in net. He’s one season into a five-year contract that carries a $5.4 million charge against the salary cap and the next four have to be a lot better than the first.
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Injuries, illness, inconsistent play and the death of his grandmother in Latvia all contributed to Merzlikins missing time and missing pucks when he was available. Joonas Korpisalo’s no longer an option, oft-injured rookie Daniil Tarasov will almost certainly be the backup next season and the Blue Jackets need Merzlikins to put it all together as a rock solid top netminder.
“You need a goalie who has the skills, who has the talent, but also a goalie who is consistent, reliable,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. “That means staying healthy, being in top condition (and) probably the best conditioned guy on the whole team because of the requirements of that job. … The same applies for all of our goalies. It’s a hard job. It’s the hardest job on the team and it needs to be approached as one too.”
Those are qualities the Blue Jackets haven’t had since Sergei Bobrovsky left Columbus in 2019 to accept a massive contract from the Florida Panthers.
Can Merzlikins become that type of goalie next season?
Here are three reasons to believe he can:
New Columbus Blue Jackets goaltending coach a fresh start
Merzlikins considers former Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace a father figure and that relationship became even closer after the tragic fireworks-related death of Matiss Kivlenieks at the coach’s home July 4, 2021.
That’s why it wasn’t a shock when the Blue Jackets announced Legace’s contract wouldn’t be renewed. Merzlikins’ struggles made it clear that a change was necessary, whether it was a “change of scenery” trade or a change in coaching voice.
Merzlikins’ play made his contract virtually untradeable, so the latter was the only option. The Blue Jackets are scouring available goaltending coaches for a good fit, which may lead them to a “goalie whisperer” who brings out the best in Merzlikins.
Columbus Blue Jackets’ defensive play should improve
Any NHL goalie would’ve struggled in the Blue Jackets’ net this season, which showed in Korpisalo’s remarkable play compared to his middling numbers.
Even the world’s best goalies can only do so much when consistently facing NHL players in difficult situations. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Blue Jackets finished 31st in 5-on-5 scoring chances allowed (2,201) and 30th in high-danger chances allowed (898). Columbus goalies only ranked 29th in high-danger save percentage (.802), but were often under siege.
That combined with Merzlikins’ personal slump were the two biggest factors for a hideous 7-18-2 record, 4.23 goals-against average and .876 save percentage in 30 games. Merzlikins finished third-worst among NHL goalies in total goals-saved above average (-24.86) and fourth-worst in high-danger goals saved above average (-14.61).
One way to help a goalie work through a slump is to reduce scoring chances, especially those from high-danger areas. Getting top defenseman Zach Werenski back, acquiring a veteran or two and continuing to develop their young NHL defensemen could significantly help Merzlikins.
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins and his summer of ‘torture’
Nobody is more disturbed by Merzlikins’ play than him, which is why he’s vowed to make this offseason a launch pad for a strong rebound in 2023-24.
“I’m the first one to say that I was awful,” Merzlikins said. “Too many injuries. Too many ups and downs. I am 29. I’m not a kid anymore. It’s time to grow up, Elvis. Time to step it up. I need to become a leader. I’m excited for this summer. I’m going to torture myself. I’m going to come back next training camp strong.”
This isn’t the first time Merzlikins has made bold proclamations and won’t be the last. It’s part of who he is, how his mind works and what drives him. It's how he put together such an impressive rookie season and how he earned his contract. Those looking for a reason to believe him should look no further than his decision not to play for Latvia in this spring’s world championship, which will be held in Tampere, Finland and Merzlikins’ hometown of Riga, Latvia.
“I really want to go,” Merzlikins said. “I’m sorry, but (my) national team is not bringing the bread home. This is the team (in Columbus) that is paying me a lot, and I need to give them back what they’re paying for. I have May, June, July, August and a little bit of September … plenty of time to get stronger and ready for the new season. I’m going to stay all summer (in Columbus) and get myself ready.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: three reasons why Elvis Merzlikins can excel for Columbus Blue Jackets
