Emily Kaplan: "Merzlikins is in a much better place"
Emily Kaplan: "Merzlikins is in a much better place"
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports - Emily Kaplan: "Merzlikins is in a much better place"Elvis Merzlikins was not happy about the three-goalie system the CBJ had going for a little while, and he made it known. He refused to talk to the media and commented in a post-game media scrum that shook the Jackets fanbase. He told the media he had requested a trade.
Many immediately wondered if Elvis had misspoke. It sure didn't sound like it, but it seems that maybe he did. President of Hockey Ops John Davidson said in a radio interview a few days later that "Elvis has not asked to be traded," with many people not believing Davidson. Davidson also said that the CBJ front office sat down with Merzlikins' agent and Elvis himself, and never was a trade request talked about.
Today, ESPN's Emily Kaplan said in an article,
It also sounds like things have quieted down on the Elvis Merzlikins front. Merzlikins' agent, Gerry Johansson, never formally requested a trade. He did have a conversation with management where both sides agreed they could call around the league to see if there were other opportunities. But it doesn't sound like there was a ton of interest right now, and I'm told Merzlikins is in a much better place.
The Jackets have since put Spencer Martin on waivers, who was then claimed by Carolina, which ended the dreaded three-goalie system. After the post-game interview, Elvis went on to start the next two games, going 0-2, before seeing Daniil Tarasov start last night against the Calgary Flames.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen also made some very interesting comments about Elvis in a radio interview on Tuesday. Kekalainen said,
"Well, it's funny, Because it first came out that we need a different scenario because he wasn't playing and he wasn't happy and we wouldn't want him to be happy not playing. Then it came out that he wanted a trade, and then he retracted that and said that he didn't say that he wanted to--or misspoke--and doesn't want to get traded, loves Columbus, and now he's got the net for the last couple of games."
"If you play like a No. 1 goalie and work your butt off every day and be a good teammate," Kekelainen said. "There's no problem. Everybody's happy."
This situation will continue to be a topic of discussion for the rest of the season. If Elvis doesn't play well, the trade talks will die off. If he does play well, rumors will be flying all over the hockey world. One could see this being brought up every week until the trade deadline.
Columbus needs Merzlikins to play well for a few different reasons.
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