Over his last three starts, Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins has allowed 18 goals (six goals in each start), posting an .841SV% and -4.9 goals saved above expected (GSAx), per EvolvingHockey.
One moment that stuck out from the team's 6-2 loss was when Dylan Guenther ran over Merzlikins at 17:00 of the third period, leaving Merzlikins shaken up. While a goalie's teammates usually make a fuss over an opponent contacting the goalie after the whistle, nobody seemed to come to Merzlikins' defense as Guenther was lying in the crease. Does that show how Merzlikins' teammates feel about him?
Regardless, his performance this season doesn't justify his contract, which carries a $5.4M cap hit through the 2026-27 season.
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the financial implications of moving on from him in the off-season, whether that's via buyout or trade.
| Year | Buyout Cap Hit/Savings | Retain 25% Cap Hit/Savings | Retain 30% Cap Hit/Savings | Retain 50% Cap Hit/Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | $1.15M/$4.25M | $1.35M/$4.05M | $1.62M/$3.78M | $2.7M/$2.7M |
| 2025-26 | $1.625M/$3.775M | $1.35M/$4.05M | $1.62M/$3.78M | $2.7M/$2.7M |
| 2026-27 | $2.95M/$2.45M | $1.35M/$4.05M | $1.62M/$3.78M | $2.7M/$2.7M |
| 2027-28 | $1.75M/-$1.75M | $0/$0 | $0/$0 | $0/$0 |
| 2028-29 | $1.75M/-$1.75M | $0/$0 | $0/$0 | $0/$0 |
| 2029-30 | $1.75M/-$1.75M | $0/$0 | $0/$0 | $0/$0 |
| Total After 3 Years | $5.7M/$10.5M | $4.05M/$12.15M | $4.86M/$11.34M | $8.1M/$8.1M |
| Total From Years 4-6 | $5.25M/-$5.25M | $0/$0 | $0/$0 | $0/$0 |
As we get closer to the off-season, it seems more and more likely that Merzlikins' days in Columbus are numbered.
