Coming into the 2025-26 season, goaltending was the most obvious position of concern for the Columbus Blue Jackets. After the final horn sounded on the season, the outlook is a lot different, with a new #1 in town. While Jet Greaves stole the show, Elvis Merzlikins continued to face a battle at every turn.
This year, it seemed like we saw a different version of #90. Especially early in the season. Then-head coach Dean Evason alternated starts between his goaltenders for the first month of the season, and both guys seemed to be thriving.
Then, almost inexplicably, that rotation stopped. Greaves was handed both halves of a back-to-back on the road (November 10+11), which grew to five starts in a row as the Jackets started to stumble in their overall game.
From where I sit, it seems like the team was just waiting for Merzlikins to struggle for the first time before handing over the reins. On November 8th in Vancouver, he allowed 4 goals on 24 shots in a 4-3 loss. He would see just two more starts in the month.
Up to that point, Elvis was doing fine. He was 4-3-0, with a .917% save percentage. In those first 7 starts, he posted a save percentage below 90% just once-and it was actually in one of the games he won.
In some ways, it feels like Elvis was not given a fair shake of things this year, especially when you look at his body of work early on. Benching a guy who plays the game with his emotions out in the open is not always the best way to handle him.
But, with that said, he has had plenty of opportunities to run with the starting job for the Blue Jackets, and he just has not done it. He has struggled with consistency throughout his career, and is prone to giving up that one bad goal a night.
For all of the great, athletic saves he makes, sometimes that one ugly goal costs his team points in the standings. Worse, as mentioned, he lays his emotions right out there for the world to see, and that one bad goal can snowball into two or three.
The difference this year: he had real competition in the crease. By season's end, we're looking at another disappointing stat line from the guy who is paid to be this team's starting goaltender. Elvis finished the year 14-11-3, with a .883% save percentage, 3.40 goals against average, and 1 shutout. At this point, he has clearly lost the starting job.
Still, adding in the caveat that I really don't think he had a fair shake-and that this team still has a lot of defensive zone woes-I would give him a "C" grade. Basically, Elvis was exactly what we knew him to be coming in to the year.
What happens next for #90?
As of right this moment, Elvis Merzlikins is the only goaltender signed by the Blue Jackets for next season, aside from rookie pro Evan Gardner, and Nolan Lalonde, who played most of this year in the ECHL. But, for the first time in several years, I think this team is going to enter next season with a new starter.
Jet Greaves was certainly more predictable in the role, and it doesn't take much of a deep dive into the numbers to prove that. He's due a new contract, and he will be paid accordingly to serve as this team's starter for years to come. He's also set to represent Canada at the World Championship tournament.
That's a bad omen for Merzlikins, who has long told the media that he will not be the backup in Columbus. To his credit, he sure looked the part of a good and supportive teammate this year. And, his early season play definitely helped earn him some good faith. At least in my opinion.
So, I think it's possible that he could be traded this summer, maybe with some retained salary and/or a sweetener thrown into the deal. Of course, that may hinge on whether or not the club can get a veteran backup to serve behind Greaves. Time will tell. It's also possible that he's back for another shot in Central Ohio:
Rick Bowness (re: Elvis Merzlikins) "You think you're a #1 goalie? Come to camp in shape and ready to prove it". #CBJ
— Union and Blue (@UnionAndBlue) April 16, 2026
It sounds like the new head coach is planning to have him back, and giving him a chance to win the #1 job again. The best thing Elvis can do is return fully prepared and motivated to take on the task. That means he's staring down another battle, months before even returning to the ice.
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