Former Teammate Of Elvis Merzlikins Doesn't Believe He's a "Team Player"
Former Teammate Of Elvis Merzlikins Doesn't Believe He's a "Team Player"
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports - Former Teammate Of Elvis Merzlikins Doesn't Believe He's a "Team Player"A former Elvis Merzlikins teammate, Rihards Cimmermanis recently said in a podcast that he believes Merzlikins isn't a "team player." The quotes were originally reported here.
In the Latvian podcast, Cimmermanis says,
"I've known Elvi since childhood because we played together from the age of about 12," revealed Cimmermanis. "We played together for about three years. Even then he had behavioral problems. I won't say anything out loud, but he was and is an interesting person. There have been incidents in the U18, U20 championships. Let's put it this way – I wouldn't call him a 'team player'.”
Cimmermanis says, "I don't want to tell everything and slander a person, but the way he was in his childhood and youth, it all comes out even now. What you are, you are."
"I am personally not surprised by what is happening to him and his statements. In the U18 championship, we played two games each. He won the best goalkeeper award and I won the team's Most Valuable Player award (MVP). I remember he was very angry because he was given just a cup as the best goalkeeper, but I was given a Tissot watch."
No Blue Jacket, at least publicly has ever spoken out against Elvis Merzlikins in terms of being a good or bad teammate.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGBB0n-UFMg[/embed]
This season has been filled with drama for the 29-year-old Latvian from Riga. Back in January after a game against Vancouver, he mentioned that he requested a trade in his post-game media scrum. Hearing him say those words shocked the fans and the media alike. John Davidson then came out and said that Elvis had not requested a trade and that it was blown out of proportion.
In the week leading up to that statement by Elvis, he was refusing to talk to the media. When he did talk, he said that he hadn't requested a trade, but that his agent and the team had agreed to find a "new scenario" for him. Just a few days later, he made the locker room statement: “After my last interview that everyone knows I requested for trade." He said he was frustrated about the Jackets playing three goalies and that he "was not a third goalie."
His agent did say that Elvis misspoke about the trade request for what it's worth.
So what does the future hold for Elvis Merzlikins? Some think that the new GM for Columbus could find him a new team this off-season, which won't be an easy task given his AAV. But with the cap going up this year, it might make it easier. Others think he may get bought out, but this option is not ideal for the Blue Jackets. They might just hold onto him for another year until another young goalie is ready, or they find a cheaper option.
Elvis has played much better this season, but this summer could be very interesting for both him and the team.
What's Next - The Blue Jackets will travel to Arizona to play the Coyotes on Tuesday night.
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