Merzlikins' new contract keeps him at 'home' in Columbus

When you think of everything Elvis Merzlikins has been through in Columbus, it's hard to believe it's been only two years since he arrived in the capital city.
He's had the highest of highs and lowest of lows on the ice, from the winless streak to start his career to finishing fifth in the Vezina Trophy voting as a rookie. That's been doubly true in his personal life, from getting married and witnessing the recent birth of his son, Knox, to living through the unspeakable tragedy this summer of the death of friend, teammate and countryman Matiss Kivlenieks.
Through it all, the constant has been Columbus, and each thing that has happened has further cemented the bond between the goaltender and the city.

It's become home for Merzlikins and his family, and it appears it will stay that way now that he
signed a five-year, $27 million contract
extension Tuesday that runs through the 2026-27 season.
"Quite honestly, it is awesome," he said Wednesday of signing that new deal. "I like the city. I like where I am. Columbus is the team who chose me in 2014 (in the draft). In my career, I've played on just a few teams -- quite honestly, as a professional, I've played on just two teams. I've never changed teams. When I played in Lugano, that was my home, that is my home in my heart and now Columbus is becoming my home.
"I'm really happy I'm still with the team who chose me in the draft and the team that has believed in me."

The decision also takes a weight off the shoulders of the Blue Jackets, who had two goalies -- Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo -- each entering the final year of their contracts and with the chance to enter unrestricted free agency after the upcoming season.
It seems clear based on his first two seasons that Merzlikins has star potential, even if his road has been filled with curves. The 27-year-old is 21-21-13 in 61 NHL games (54 starts) with a 2.54 goals-against average and .920 save percentage, a mark that is fourth among netminders in the league who have played at least 50 games the past two seasons.
In addition, seven of his wins have come via shutout, including a historic stretch in the winter of 2020 when he blanked five opponents in eight games.
"I think he's got a lot of those qualities that everyone is looking for in a No. 1 goalie," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "He's athletic, he's quick, he's explosive, he's competitive, so he's showing it on a lot of different levels even before he arrived here. He had a bit of a rough start, got everything together and went on a great run there in his first year and that continued on there in his second. I think he's got a real good future ahead of him."
And to hear Merzlikins tell it, he expects to keep getting better. He previously has said his goal this season is to win the Vezina, given to the league's top goalie each season, in memory of Kivlenieks, and it's fair to think that with two years under his belt, he could be ready to reach even a higher level of play.
"This is the thing -- I have been here just two years," he said. "Last year, with the COVID and all that stuff, that was different hockey without the fans and all that stuff. I think I have so much more to learn, to understand, in this league. There's going to be mistakes, for sure. Everybody is making mistakes, but I think for this long term, I think every year I am going to get better, better and better, if not every day."

Yet, for the time being, there is also the reality that Merzlikins shares the position with another accomplished goaltender in his own right in Korpisalo, who enters his seventh season with the Blue Jackets having played in 70 games and started 64 over the past two years.
Even with the new contract, there is no guarantee Merzlikins will be the No. 1 goalie this upcoming season, Kekalainen said, with the playing time to be distributed as the coaching staff sees fit based on play on the ice.
"I think how they split the net is going to be based on how they play," the general manager said. "Elvis has had two good years and some very good success in the National Hockey League especially in the first year here. He's earned the contract, but Korpi is going to have a great opportunity, too, here going into the season. We know what he can do, and he was very good for us. Last year probably wasn't his best year, but we expect him to bounce back and be really good this year again."
For his part, Merzlikins said Tuesday that he feels he is capable of earning the No. 1 role -- and his numbers have tended to improve over the years when he is given the chance to string starts together -- but also understands that nothing will be given.
"(With the extension) I see a huge trust from my club to me, obviously, but there is a training camp and still we are here, me and Korpi," Merzlikins said. "In training camp, we are going to push together really hard. Obviously there is one net, and the goalie is going to be the one who is going to play. There is still work to do, and at the end of the day, we are working for our club and our organization."

Kekalainen said a huge year out of Korpisalo would leave the Blue Jackets with a "good problem" to have, but in the meantime, Merzlikins is the one who has put pen to paper to stay with Columbus for the long term. It's a decision he took to his wife, Aleksandra, who didn't take long to sign off.
"We wanted to stay here," Merzlikins said. "We want to start looking to buy a house. Our son was just born here. This is going to be his home. He is going to be from here. This is something important for him. Even now, he doesn't understand where he is, but for us it is important that he can grow up here in Columbus, Ohio."
The last two years have been filled with almost every conceivable emotion for Merzlikins, who isn't lacking for personality or confidence. Yet as the years have gone by, he's become more and more comfortable in the city and in the organization. That growth has certainly been noticed and now rewarded.
"He's definitely matured," Kekalainen said. "He's also learned the league and he understand what is required here and the different culture and all that. I think he's handled it well, and he's a dad now. He has a whole different setup at home, too. I think he wanted to do a long-term deal. We wanted to do a long-term deal. Now we have it locked up and we have two good goaltenders at least for this year."