SvoNotes: Merzlikins makes another fashion statement, this one with gear

I must admit, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw them.
Wait, who is the goalie in the powder blue pads? Is that Elvis Merzlikins? And why is he wearing those?

But at the end of the day, it shouldn't have been a huge surprise. He's never been someone shy to show off his style, and if there's a goalie who was going to make such a bold fashion statement on the ice --
perhaps matching the ones he's taking off of it
-- it was bound to be Merzlikins.
The baby blues have certainly caught some eyes already on social media, but it's an obvious extension of Merzlikins' meticulous attention to style and details. The plan is to wear the eye-catching pads with the Jackets' third jerseys -- next up is a home game Monday vs. Detroit -- and they'll certainly look good with that cannon-inspired uniform.
That is, if you're into such things, but Merzlikins also knows the pads aren't for everyone.
"There are a couple of guys who do not like them," he said Tuesday. "There are a couple of guys who are saying that they like them, but I don't trust them that they like them. But the most important thing is I like them. I had this idea, and obviously in the Elvis way, I wanted to do something different. I didn't want it to be simple."
Merzlikins said he got the idea from seeing a Blue Jackets goalie in the past wear baby blue pads with the third jersey. The best guess is he's referring to Curtis Sanford, who went similarly bold when he suited up for the Blue Jackets in the 2011-12 season.

And as anyone who has followed Merzlikins' career knows, he's someone who puts a ton of time and effort into creating his gear setup, with the most notable example in his CBJ career to this point the skyline-inspired duds he wore late in his debut season of 2019-20.
He sketches out his designs each offseason on an iPad and works with his Bauer rep each season to produce four or five sets of pads/gloves, with one for training camp/preseason games, three for the regular season and perhaps another set for the postseason. He likes the fashion aspect of it, of course -- look good, play good, right? -- but there also is a practical aspect to it, as pads must hit the sweet spot of being broken in and ready for play but eventually lose their shape as they go through the grind of games and practices.
"You just feel it when they are soft," he said of when a set of pads is done for. "The five-hole gets opened. Even if you go down on the ice and there is no stick, the puck goes through. You just feel that they are loose. That's about the feeling. Some goalies like more tighter pads, some goalies like really loose. I like them tight - not too much tight, but I like them stiff. When they come in new, they are really stiff and I try to break them in. You can break them in too much that they're going to set too soft.
Then, with a smile: "We are goalies. You can never understand us."
That is true, but Merzlikins doesn't seem to mind. He prefers bright colors over dark ones on his pads, even though he's been teased for choosing a color that brings to mind the new look of the Seattle Kraken. He also said he discussed the idea of baby blue pads with the late Matiss Kivlenieks last year, and the two agreed he should go for it, one reason he followed through this year.
And if you have a keen eye, you'll notice the design on the baby blue pads matches that of the new white pads Merzlikins debuted in Saturday's win over Colorado, just in a different color. It's a pattern that Merzlikins said he developed with Bauer this offseason, something he could lean into this year.
That set he only needed to break in during one day of practice before the Colorado game, which was a quicker turnaround then he's used to.
"I practiced once and I played the game right away," he said. "During the game, I didn't even think about that because you have other things to worry about. You are under the pressure. If the puck is flying at you, you have to catch it somehow, even if the glove is stiff or soft."

Carlsson gets his shot

Gabriel Carlsson, offensive defenseman?
OK, that's not quite what Blue Jackets head coach Brad Larsen wants. That role belongs to Zach Werenski, and maybe even Jake Bean after the new CBJ blueliner had two goals last week in a win over Colorado.
But Carlsson has shown his stuff the past two wins against the Avs. In the Wednesday night win at altitude, he perfectly worked a 2-on-1 rush with Cole Sillinger, feathering a pass to the youngster that he perfectly slid home to give the Jackets a 3-2 lead in the third period.
Then, in the return engagement Saturday in Nationwide Arena, Carlsson started the scoring in the game, sneaking in the back door, taking a perfectly placed pass from Jakub Voracek, taking his time and beating Darcy Kuemper short side for the second goal of his NHL career.

"It feels good to contribute offensively," Carlsson said. "You gain some confidence getting some points and helping the team in that way, too."
Yet in the grand scheme of things, that's not exactly why Carlsson is starting to get some regular playing time. The 2015 first-round pick has been in and out of the lineup over the years, but mostly out, as he entered the season with just 37 games played in five NHL seasons.
Carlsson has played five of 10 games this year for Columbus and is doing exactly what Larsen wants him to bring to the table.
"I'm happy for him," Larsen said. "I'm not worried about his offensive side, though. We have guys that do that. I've been pretty clear with him and certainly welcome it, but making sure he stays within his game. He has a very clear picture of what we're looking for, but it's great to see obviously."
Carlsson said he spent the offseason working on his strength -- always a knock, given the Swede's slender 6-foot-5 frame -- and his skating ability. He's still just 24 years old, and while Carlsson never projects to be the flashiest player, he's started to get the confidence that he can be a regular at the NHL level.
"For sure," he said about getting into a playing rhythm of late. "I get that routine down and you can stay in the game. You find a partner you have a connection with and try to find that chemistry. Hopefully me and (Andrew Peeke) can build on that."

This Day in CBJ History

Nov. 10, 2010: The Blue Jackets tie the franchise record for goals and record the most lopsided win in club history at the time, beating the St. Louis Blues by an 8-1 score at Nationwide Arena. R.J. Umberger had a goal and an assist, starting a then-CBJ record 10-game point streak (3-10-13).
Nov. 10, 2018: Cam Atkinson scores a goal in a 5-4 shootout loss at the New York Rangers. He'd go on to tally in seven straight games, notching nine tallies in that span, to tie Geoff Sanderson's franchise-record goal streak. Atkinson would run his point streak to a career-best 12 straight contests from Nov. 10-Dec. 6 (13-7-20), one short of tying Ryan Johansen's club record. The streak included the 35th (Nov. 17 at Carolina) and 36th (Dec. 4 vs. Calgary) hat tricks in franchise history.