Another season has come and gone for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and with it, another disappointing end of season skid leading to the sixth year in a row that the CBJ will not appear in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There are a multitude of reasons for this, both based in analytics and the eye-test, and the organization is already making decisions on how to remedy the situation next season.
Many fans have turned their attention to the upcoming draft, as well as speculation on the next contracts of the Jackets' key free agents. But there is one decision that I have seen few people discuss when looking to this offseason. I feel there is a real opportunity in all of the offseason excitement for GM Don Waddell to get creative with the goaltending situation.
It's no secret that Jet Greaves broke onto the scene and stole the show this season. The 25-year-old undrafted goaltender had made appearances in just 20 games over the previous 3 seasons before being thrust into a full time role this year. He eventually put the starter debate to bed with a 26-19-9 record, and a solid .908 save percentage. A statline that will likely be rewarded in the coming months with a big new contract.
Rounding out the tandem was Elvis Merzlikins. The veteran netminder played his in his seventh season with the CBJ, and was who many believed would retain the starting job entering this season. However, after appearing in only 30 games, and posting a 14-11-3 record and an .883 save percentage (the second lowest of his career), a potential move may not be out of the question.
While it should be noted that scoring was up and save percentage was down league-wide (meaning an .883 isn't quite as poor as it may seem), there are other reasons to think Waddell could be looking into a goaltending shakeup. Elvis previously requested a trade in January of 2024, a full two seasons ago, citing that he and the organization were in talks to find a "new scenario" [Aaron Portzline].
I agreed at the time that a change of scenery would have been good for Elvis, as there had been issues both on-ice and personal that made Columbus a particularly arduous place to play for him. The passing of his good friend, countryman, and fellow CBJ goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks in a tragic accident in 2021 understandably took a major toll on him. He later stated that there was a time in which the in-arena cannon that fires every time the Jackets score was causing him psychological troubles as well.
That change of scenery never came, however. The front office noted a lack of interest around the league as the main cause, and it was easy to see why. At the time of the request, he still had 3 years remaining on a deal paying him $5.4 million per year against the cap. That would've been a big risk to take on for another organization even without the struggles he had endured. Since then Elvis has doubled down in his efforts to compete for the Jackets and has remained a decent option who can still flash the leather and make athletic saves when needed.
But Elvis' goal remains clear. He still wants a starting gig in the NHL. In coach Rick Bowness' scathing review of the team during his end of year press conference, he had advice for Merzlikins: "You think you're a #1 goalie? Come to camp in shape and ready to prove it". And while I would love for Jet Greaves' success as starter to spark something in Elvis and motivate him, circumstances have changed, and the option to move off of him will likely present itself.
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
Going into next year, Elvis now has just 1 year remaining on that big contract. Pair that with the boom the salary cap has received in the last 2 years, and asking another team to take on that deal is a much smaller ask than it was in 2024. It may not be ideal, but if push comes to shove the Jackets have the option to retain salary to sweeten the deal if needed.
I recognize this idea is largely based in speculation, and that there is nothing inherently wrong with Elvis coming back next year to finish out his tenure, but as GM, Don Waddell's job will be to look into how to improve this team next year. He may have the opportunity to do right by a player who has previously requested a change of scenery, while giving an opportunity to someone who may just make this team better.
We will continue to monitor the offseason as it develops!
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