Is Elvis Merzlikins Time In Columbus Coming To An End?

Per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has not requested a trade, but he and the Jackets have agreed to "find a new scenario for him." 

Elvis hasn't played in a game since December 29th, and he left that game with an illness. Since that game, Merzlikins hasn't played and has either been the backup or a healthy scratch. Currently, the CBJ are going with three goalies, Merzlikins, Tarasov, and Spencer Martin. HC Pascal Vincent has said recently that Merzlikins not playing had more to do with Tarasov needing games than it had to do with Elvis. 

What's next for Elvis is the big question. He is under contract through the 26-27 season and carries a cap hit of $5.4 million annually. It's been said many times by experts that he would most likely be traded over the summer if a trade were to happen, and that some of his salary would most likely be retained by the Jackets. 

Several weeks ago, rumors were spreading that Edmonton had been looking at Elvis to help solve their goalie issues, but since then those have all but been silenced. It is worth noting that Merzlikin's agent is Edmonton-based, so that could have been where that smoke had been coming from. 

From the outside looking in, it sounds like Elvis Merzlikin's time in Columbus is all but over. Will he be traded during the season, or the off-season is the big question. 

Now we wait. 

Next Up: The Jackets return home on Saturday to battle the Seattle Kraken at 7 p.m.

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