Landing spots for Blue Jackets Elvis Merzlikins

While the Columbus Blue Jackets aren't hurting for cap space (they have $32.36 million), it never hurts to optimize it further. And during the postseason, they have a chance to recapture more of it by trading veteran goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.

Merzlikins' current cap hit with the Blue Jackets is $5.4 million, and he has one year left on the deal he signed with the Blue Jackets in 2022, with then general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. 

Once thought to be the next star in the Blue Jackets system, the 76th pick in 2014 never developed into the team's no. 1 goalie, after the departures of Sergei Bobrovsky and Joonas Korpisalo. 

Now, staring down the ascension of prospect Jet Greaves, who put on a stellar performance during the 2025-26 season, with a record of 55 games played, 26-19-9, a 2.60 goals against average, and an above-average .908 save percentage. 

 Merzlikins, in contrast, had a record that looked like that of an NHL backup, starting only 30 games, with a record of 14-11-3, 3.40 goals against average, and .883 save percentage. 

Merzlikin's time in Columbus has been on a steady decline, after experiencing the loss of his best friend Matiss Kivlenieks, who died after being struck by fireworks at a July 4th party in Michigan in 2021. The Latvian goalie would play the 2021-22 season in honor of his friend and would play with a goal of earning a Vezina Trophy. 

Going into the season, the 27-year-old said his focus was to honour Kivlenieks by going all-in to be the best goalie in the NHL and win the Vezina Trophy.

The season would end, with Merzlikins playing his last season above .900, finishing the year with a .907 save percentage. 

Now, with the Blue Jackets moving in a different direction under general manager Don Waddell, the team could move on from Merzlikins to give him a fresh start elsewhere. 

Where would Merzlikins fit?

Edmonton Oilers

The combination of Connor Ingram and Tristan Jarry isn't working. 

Jarry played 19 games with the Oilers and finished the year with a GAA of 3.86 and an .858 SV%. All signs point. Flipping Jarry could be a challenge, but GM Stan Bowman can't sit aside and do nothing, as the Oilers have been plagued with underperforming goaltenders. Is a buyout, or a trade with a prospect, or draft pick attached to swallow the bitter pill of his $5.375 million AAV deal?

Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs under head coach Rick Tocchet, but didn't have enough support in goal to make it further than the first round. 

Goaltender Daniel Vladar took control of the crease and gave the Flyers a shot of life near the end of the year, finishing the regular season with a record of 52 games played, 29-14-7, 2.42 goals against average, and a .906 save percentage. However, his counterpart Samuel Ersson, played below expectations (3.12 GAA and .870 SV%). 

Vladar will need a new backup in order to keep the team's surprise window of contention open. Could Merzlikins be the right goalie for the job?

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