Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets Agree to five-Year, $27M Contract Extension

Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets Agree to five-Year, $27M Contract Extension

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The Columbus Blue Jackets and goalie Elvis Merzlikins hold agreed to a prolonged-time length contract extension. 

Blue Jackets overall supervisor Jarmo Kekalainen announced Tuesday that Merzlikins signed a five-365 days, $27 million deal that retains him with the group thru the 2026-27 season.

“Goaltending is a converse of strength for our workers and Elvis Merzlikins has been a primarily indispensable section of that over the previous two seasons so we’re very infected to hold agreed to terms on a contract extension that will defend him in Columbus for on the least the subsequent six years,” Kekalainen talked about in the announcement. “He is mammoth, athletic and has an supreme passion for the game and we order he’s going to be an integral section of our success in the arrival years.”

Merzlikins was as soon as a third-spherical take by the Blue Jackets in the 2014 NHL draft. He remained in Switzerland, playing for HC Lugano in the Nationwide League for five seasons earlier than coming to Columbus. 

At the time of his arrival, Merzlikins signed a one-365 days, entry-level care for the Blue Jackets. He signed a two-365 days extension in April 2020 that was as soon as attach to bustle out on the tip of the 2021-22 season. 

The Latvia native has nick up time in the to find with Joonas Korpisalo over the previous two seasons for the Blue Jackets. He has been supreme with a 2.54 dreams towards moderate, 92.0 keep percentage in 61 appearances.

No matter ending tied for 12th in the league with a 91.6 keep percentage final season, Merzlikins would possibly possibly perhaps solely prepare an 8-12-5 document in 23 starts for the reason that offense tied for 28th in dreams per sport (2.39). 

Korpisalo, whose fresh deal is determined to bustle out on the tip of the 2021-22 marketing campaign, will likely recede into the 365 days as Columbus’ predominant goaltender. 

Merzlikins’ extension gives the Blue Jackets a pure succession notion in the event that they make a probability to let Korpisalo take a look at free company. The 27-365 days-feeble’s song document of success over the previous two seasons suggests he has the ability to be a No. 1 goalie in the end.   

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