Why Golden Knights Won't Trade For Blue Jackets Goalie Elvis Merzlikins
Merzlikins, Blue Jackets agree to find for new "scenario" for goalie.
Aaron Doster - USA TODAY Sports - Why Golden Knights Won't Trade For Blue Jackets Goalie Elvis MerzlikinsColumbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins has requested a trade from the organization.
Merzlikins has played in 24 games with an 3.22 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
The Athletic recently looked at four potential landing spots for the goalie, and the Golden Knights, unsurprisingly, were not one of them.
It makes sense not to make a move for Merzlikins for a three reasons, in particular.
The first one is cost.
Merzlikins has a contract with 3.5 years left with an annual-average value of $5.4 million.
The Golden Knights tend to push the upper limits of the salary cap, meaning they will not have the cap space to trade for Merzlikins, unless a player goes on LTIR.
He would also be the most paid goalie on the roster, prompting him to get the first looks ahead of Adin Hill and Logan Thompson.
The second is what would be the price tag to acquire such a goalie.
The Golden Knights have few prospects that may intrigue a rebuilding team like the Blue Jackets. Any package starts with Brendan Brisson and Kaedan Korczak, and that's not quite as appealing as deeper prospect pools, such as the teams mentioned by The Athletic.
It would also probably mean parting with Thompson, who at $766,667 AAV, is a steal for the Golden Knights, and considering Thompson is playing better than Merzlikins, it's even more unlikely that Thompson's time in Vegas is anywhere near finished.
Finally, the third reason why Merzlikins won't be in the building for Vegas aside from a road trip: they don't need him.
Sure, a lot is riding on Hill's health at this point, but the Golden Knights are expecting him back and he's played much better than Merzlikins when he has stepped onto the ice.
The second, Thompson is also playing well, giving the Golden Knights a solid two options at net, so moving away from him wouldn't make sense either.
If Hill is out long term, the Golden Knights may explore a goalie in the trade market, but one that cost as much as Merzlikins won't be one they trade for.
Either way, Elvis won't be in the building for Vegas.
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