Report: Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins At A Crossroads With Blue Jackets

Sunday, September 27, 2026
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It was reported by the Columbus Dispatch's own Brian Hedger that the Columbus Blue Jackets and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins' relationship could be coming to an end. 

On Sunday morning, Hedger reported with the news that the goaltender the team was poised to put his house up in New Albany, Ohio up for sale. With one year left on his five-year, $5.4 million average annual value contract. 


Originally sold to fans as the solution to the Blue Jackets' goaltending woes after Sergei Bobrovsky, the Latvian goaltender drafted 76th overall in 2014 has had issues with consistency throughout his entire career. 

After his debut in 2019-20, where he played 33 games with a 13-9-8 record, a 2.35 GAA, and a .923 save percentage, he seemed to be the next in line to save a team that had playoff success for the first time in 2018-19 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Is Merzlikins' Time In The NHL Over?


But his quality of play would decline after health issues and losing friend and fellow goalie Matiss Kievlinieks, who died in 2021 after a fireworks incident, took their toll. 

Since the 2021-22 season, Merlikins hasn't been able to capture the brilliance seen early in his career, and finished last season with a record of 30 GP, 14-11-3, 3.40 GAA, and an .883 SV%. 

Putting his house up for sale seems to suggest that Merzlikins will be finding work outside of the team that drafted him and developed him. But a lack of interest in the NHL could see Merzlikins take his talents elsewhere. 

No reports on where he could land next, but is on injured reserve for the foreseeable future. 
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