Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is in limbo, and we all should be in such limbo. Dude makes $5.4 million per year, but he's mad at ... somebody. And he wants out of Columbus . Good luck moving that contract.
It's that time of the year in Columbus. It's disgruntlement season.
Two years ago at this time – Jan. 23, 2021, to be exact – the Jackets traded disgruntled center Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Winnipeg Jets for forwards Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic . Within months, Roslovic signed a two-year extension worth $4 million per year and now, on an expiring contract, he's probably on the trading block. Laine in 2022 signed a four-year contract worth $8.7 million per year that runs through 2025-26.
Last year at this time, trade rumors began to swirl around defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. This wasn't a shock. Gavrikov wanted to stay in Columbus but could not agree on terms for an extension. He was drafted and developed in Columbus, like Merzlikins, Dubois, formerly disgruntled power forward Josh Anderson and formerly disgruntled center Ryan Johansen . (For the record, formerly disgruntled goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was acquired in trade.)
On March 1, Gavrikov was packaged with goaltender Joonas Korpisalo , who was also on an expiring contract, and sent to the Los Angeles Kings for a first and second-round draft pick.
Blue Jackets fans remember Gavrikov as a sturdy defender, tough-nosed competitor and minutes eater. Mr. Reliable. Jackets players remember him as a wonderful teammate and the big brother to all the Russians in the locker room. But, you know, business is business.
"I wish we could've gotten it done last summer, but what's done is done," Gavrikov said. "It was hard to deal with, when you start hearing bad things about you (during negotiations) and you start to realize you're about to leave, especially since we liked the city and the people. It's hard to accept, but you can also see that maybe it's an opportunity to move on."
Our fine Jackets beat writer, Brian Hedger , often made the case for keeping Gavrikov during episodes of our hockey podcast, "Cannon Fodder." He quantified Gavrikov's value, on and off the ice, and noted that Gavrikov had played fewer than 300 NHL games and was entering the sweet spot of his career. Why not pay the man?
Gavrikov was making $2.8 million per year on his previous contract and he was seeking a long-term deal worth something in the range of $6 million per. Hedger always thought that the Jackets should have found a deal for him, even if it was for the max eight years. Gavrikov was a Jacket, and he wasn't even disgruntled.
Good point.
Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen later flipped the first-round pick (No. 22 overall) he'd acquired from LA to the Philadelphia Flyers . In return, the Jackets got defenseman Ivan Provorov. Then, Kekalainen went out big-game hunting in the free-agent market. He did a sign-and-trade with the New Jersey Devils for defenseman Damon Severson , 29. Essentially, Kekalainen gave Severson – whom the Devils considered expendable – the contract Gavrikov was seeking – eight years at $6.25 million per season.
Remember, the company line about the Provorov and Severson acquisitions went something like this: An awful defense, injury-riddled the season previous, had been upgraded; the upgrade would make Merzlikins, who had some of the worst goaltending numbers in the league the year previous, a better goalie; Mike Babcock would make sure of it.
How's all that going?
Merzlikins has been playing better. Then, he had that thing last month where he decided to pound on Washington's pneumatic hammer, Tom Wilson, and basically cost the Jackets a point. Then, two nights later, Merzlikins pulled himself out of a game due to a mysterious illness. Then, things got truly weird.
Coach Pascal Vincent began dispatching Merzlikins to the press box to make room for an extended "evaluation" of Daniil Tarasov, 24, a talented but oft injured netminder. Merzlikins, angered by his demotion, said he and Jackets management had discussed a "new scenario" for him. Merzlikins later clarified by saying, "everyone knows in here that I requested a trade."
Merzlikins' hefty contract runs through 2026-27 and, while there are some teams out there who are desperate for goaltending, it's going to take the creativity of a Basquiat to make a deal before the March 8 trade deadline. Since the whole league knows Elvis wants out, his market devaluation has acquired a weight that goes beyond his onerous contract.
There's a lot to like about the Jackets' young talent and what they have yet in the pipeline. I think Vincent is a capable coach, too, and I suspect he's trying to establish a certain locker room culture. With some nipping and tucking of the roster, and saner cap management, one can see a brighter future.
But, man, disgruntlement season is no fun. Will it ever end?
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Arace: These are weird times for fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets
