Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Invest in Elvis Merzlikins with $27 Million Extension

Elvis Merzlikins new deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets should give him lots of time to make that value a great deal for the team.

by
NHL Trade Talk
September 21, 2021

The Columbus Blue Jackets have locked up what is likely to be their starting goaltender for the next five years as the team signed Elvis Merzlikins to a $5.4 million per season contract extension totaling $27 million. This will put him under contract with the Blue Jackets through the 2026-27 season. It’s not a monster deal and it’s not a great bargain, but it does leave open the opportunity for Merzlikins to prove he’s worth every penny.

NEWS: #CBJ have signed Elvis Merzlikins (@Merzly30) to a 5-year contract extension through the 2026-27 season.

He ranks 4th-T in the NHL in SV% (.920), 6th-T in shutouts (7) and 11th in GAA (2.54) since making his #NHL debut in 2019-20 (min. 50 GP).https://t.co/WRAeLiKxxk
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) September 21, 2021

As per Aaron Portzline, Here’s the breakdown:

’22-23: $5.25 million
’23-24: $6 million
’24-25: $6 million
’25-26: $5.525 million
’26-27: $4.225 million

All five years of the deal are UFA years and he will be 32 years old at the expiry of the contract.

GM Jarmo Kekalainen said of the new deal, “Goaltending is a position of strength for our team and Elvis Merzlikins has been an important part of that over the past two seasons…” He added the team is excited to keep him in Columbus for at least the next six years, saying, “He is big, athletic and has a tremendous passion for the game and we believe he will be an integral part of our success in the coming years.”

Merzlikins has posted a 21-21-13 record with a 2.54 goals-against average, .920 save percentage, and seven shutouts in 61 career games over two seasons. These are decent, but also fairly average numbers for a starter and Columbus is hoping he takes the next step, making this contract one of good value.

The money being paid to Merzlikins puts him around 13th for highest-paid goalies, so it’s not a terrible deal if he continues to take gradual steps forward. At 27 years old, he’s still a relatively new goalie in the league and has a ton of room to improve.

This deal likely suggests the Blue Jackets will look to move Joonas Korpisalo at some point this season.

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