Elvis Merzļikins | Foto: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
The signing of goaltender Malcolm Subban to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL) was not part of the Elvia Merzlikina possible replacement plan, discovered The Athletic’s Aaron Porclain.
It was previously reported that the Blue Jackets acquired Suban in a trade from the St. Louis Blues on March 8. Although this led some to believe that this could mean an imminent trade for Merzlikin from Columbus, Elvis remained with the team. And, as Porclains points out, the replacement of the Latvian was not planned at that time either.
“Sources in the team confirm this. Both Blue Jackets goaltenders [Merzļikins un Danīls Tarasovs] in recent seasons with quite traumatic and tend to get sick, so John Davidson [kluba hokeja operāciju prezidents] decided it would be wise to Cleveland [“Blue Jackets” fārmklubs] is a veteran goaltender who can fill Jett Greaves’ spot if he is called up to the NHL. Also, when the playoffs are approaching, two veteran goaltenders are a must, even in the AHL,” writes Porclain.
Previously, it became known that Merzlikins, who missed four games, will return to the field in the Blue Jackets’ next match, which is scheduled for the night of March 13 Latvian time against the Montreal Canadiens. The Latvian has saved 90.4% of shots in 35 games this season and allowed 3.21 rebounds on average.
With Merzlikin ready to return, the Blue Jackets’ goaltending plan may change
