5 potential trade partners for Columbus Blue Jackets to send Elvis Merzlikins
EDMONTON, Alberta ― Elvis wants to leave the building.
After going through a recent stretch as the Blue Jackets’ third goalie, Elvis Merzlikins and the team have agreed to seek a trade that would give both sides a fresh start.
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Merzlikins’ bulky $5.4 million annual charge against the NHL’s salary cap plus his age (29) and play during the first two seasons of a five-year contract are the biggest impediments blocking such a deal, but that doesn’t mean one won’t materialize.
Multiple NHL insiders have reported that Merzlikins’ trade market is virtually non-existent, but goaltending is a fickle beast and there are teams currently looking to either bolster what they have or make wholesale changes. Here are five that should probably consider swinging a deal for Merzlikins:
San Jose Sharks
Current situation: The rebuilding Sharks are going with Kaapo Kahkonen (3.61 GAA, .899 sv%) and Mackenzie Blackwood (3.69 GAA, .894 sv%) as their top two goalies. They make $5.1 million combined, and Kahkonen is a pending unrestricted free agent. San Jose also has three younger goalies in the pipeline, but none are thought to be high-end starter material.
Why it makes sense: Like the Blue Jackets, the Sharks are going through a rebuilding process. Merzlikins’ remaining term could give them stability between the pipes while the rest of the team matures around him, and San Jose’s cap situation is flexible with six pending UFAs on the NHL roster.
The holdup: Other than concerns about Merzlikins’ consistency and personality fit, there shouldn’t be any holdups. The Sharks could still require the Blue Jackets to eat a portion of Merzlikins’ salary while picking up depth on the blue line should Columbus agree to add an NHL defenseman like Andrew Peeke, Jake Bean or even Adam Boqvist.
Trade fit: All the ingredients are there for a deal.
New Jersey Devils
Current situation: Despite downing the Blue Jackets last week with a strong performance at Nationwide Arena, Vitek Vanecek is struggling as the Devils’ top option. His 3.22 goals-against average is only slightly better than Merzlikins (3.26 GAA), and the Blue Jackets goalie’s .905 save percentage in 25 games is far better than Vanecek’s .885 through 26 appearances.
Neither of the Devils’ next two options after Vanecek, both 23, are ready to take over the starting role. Nico Daws (3.19 GAA, .903 sv%) is backing up Vanecek in the NHL, while Akira Schmid (3.26 GAA, .893) was returned to the AHL to iron out his issues.
Why it makes sense: The Devils’ goaltending is almost as much of a scrambled mess as the Blue Jackets have on their roster. The difference is New Jersey is farther along in their “rebuild” process after qualifying for the playoffs and upsetting the New York Rangers last season in the first round. They need a goalie who can give them average-or-better results consistently, which Merzlikins is already doing for a team that commits more defensive breakdowns in front of him.
The holdup: The Devils are a Metropolitan Division rival that already gives the Blue Jackets fits, so there might be a little hesitancy on the Blue Jackets’ side.
New Jersey, meanwhile, is probably leery of the remaining contract commitment with Merzlikins – like all teams looking at him. Merzlikins’ brash personality also makes general managers hesitant to add him into their locker room setting, but his potential is still enticing for a team like the Devils.
Trade fit: Almost perfect, but it would likely take the Blue Jackets sweetening the pot by packaging Merzlikins with a draft pick, prospect and/or NHL player plus agreeing to take Vanecek’s $3.4 million cap charge for one more season.
Carolina Hurricanes
Current situation: The Hurricanes claimed Spencer Martin off waivers from the Blue Jackets, so they’re in a tough spot with goaltending. Antti Raanta (3.20 GAA, .866 sv%) has struggled mightily at age 34, and he’s the top option most nights with Frederik Andersen (blood clotting issue) and Pyotr Kotchetkov (concussion) both on injured reserve.
Why it makes sense: Andersen’s out indefinitely and his numbers ― a 2.87 GAA and .894 save percentage — weren’t good in his first six appearances. He’s also injury prone and hasn’t been able to backstop a team all the way through the playoffs despite shining in multiple postseasons for the Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs prior to his stint in Carolina. Raanta appears to be sputtering toward the end of his NHL career and Martin, despite impressing in Columbus, is more of a solid backup.
The holdup: It’s probably the inter-division thing, same as the Devils, but more so the money and term left on Merzlikins’ deal. The Hurricanes only have $1.4 million in unused cap space, which isn’t enough to fit Merzlikins’ salary without an asset coming off the books in the return package to Columbus.
Trade fit: It’s do-able if the Hurricanes don’t get Andersen back from his latest health issue before the March 8 trade deadline.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Current situation: Toronto is currently toggling between the struggling Ilya Samsonov (3.69 GAA, .866 sv%) and journeyman Martin Jones (2.64 GAA, .911). The Maple Leafs like Joseph Woll (2.80 GAA, .916), but he’s injured and still largely unproven at age 25.
Why it makes sense: The Maple Leafs need to advance farther in the playoffs, and they just don’t have a goalie right now that gives them a good shot to do it. Samsonov is a train wreck, and there are concerns about Jones’ magic eventually wearing off. The Blue Jackets would have to take Samsonov’s $3.55 million one-year contract plus eat a sizable percentage of Merzlikins’ salary to make the money work, but it could be worth it for Toronto.
The holdup: Think contract and term. Merzlikins would likely be playing for a different team already if he were a pending unrestricted free agent. He’s got three years left after this one at a No. 1 goalie’s salary level, so the Blue Jackets would almost certainly need to eat a chunk of it.
Trade fit: Intriguing for both sides.
Buffalo Sabres
Current situation: The underperforming Sabres are again being held back by poor goaltending. Devon Levi (3.32 GAA, .889 sv%) was supposed to be the answer between the pipes for Buffalo, but he’s a rookie and playing like it. Ukko-Pekka Luukonen (2.61 GAA, .908) is making impressive strides recently, but he’s had prior struggles that made fans turn on him too. Eric Comrie is another option, when healthy, but he’s on IR and has scuffled all season.
Why it makes sense: Adding Merzlikins, again at a smaller cap number after the Blue Jackets pick up a percentage of his salary, would buy more development time in the AHL for Levi, with spot NHL action, and could also give the Sabres a solid NHL tandem should Luukonen’s resurgence last. Buffalo also has the most cap space in the NHL at nearly $8.7 million.
The holdup: Merzlikins’ massive struggles last season plus his average numbers this year, when compared to his salary and the term left on his deal, are likely the biggest drawbacks for the Sabres. Their fans are already upset about the team’s underperformance after nearly making the playoffs last year, so taking a risk on a mercurial goalie might not be appealing.
Trade fit: Not likely, but the parameters are there to make it work.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 5 teams that could use Columbus Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins
