Columbus Blue Jackets’ only lineup change vs Minnesota Wild is Elvis Merzlikins

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Columbus Blue Jackets’ only lineup change vs Minnesota Wild is Elvis Merzlikins

Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch · The Columbus Dispatch

Sat, Oct 11, 2025 ·

3 min read

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Blue Jackets are making only one lineup switch heading into their second game of the season Oct. 11 against the Minnesota Wild .

Other than goalie Elvis Merzlikins making his season debut, everything else stays the same as it did in the Jackets' 2-1 loss to open the season Oct. 9 in Nashville . Jet Greaves , who started in Nashville , will handle the backup goalie role in Minnesota.

More: Elvis Merzlikins to start for Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild

"Three games in five nights, not that one of them couldn't go (in all three), but we just figured we'd get them both going," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said of his goalies. "Both played really well through preseason and training camp, so they both get an opportunity here early."

That's not the case for defenseman Jake Christiansen and forward Yegor Chinakhov , who will sit out as healthy scratches for a second straight game. The Blue Jackets' success generating scoring chances and possessing the puck in their 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators is the main reason for that, especially with Chinakhov.

There's simply no spot among the Jackets' top nine forwards group that Evason wants to change yet, so Chinakhov will continue to wait for an opportunity.

Oct 19, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek (55) fights for the puck against Minnesota Wild center Frederick Gaudreau (89) in the first period at Nationwide Arena on Saturday.

Minnesota Wild 's David Jiricek , Daemon Hunt won't play vs Columbus Blue Jackets

David Jiricek's frustration with his lack of ice time with the Blue Jackets last season led to a trade that sent him to the Wild for defenseman Daemon Hunt and a package of draft picks. Well, now they're both on Minnesota's NHL roster after Hunt was recently claimed off waivers from the Blue Jackets.

Most teams carry only seven defensemen, so that only one is scratched when the active lineup has three set defensive pairings. The Wild are carrying eight with Jiricek and Hunt in the seventh and eighth spots providing depth.

Jiricek, selected sixth overall by the Blue Jackets in 2022, played 14:01 and finished with a +3 plus/minus in Minnesota's season-opening win Oct. 9 in St. Louis , but he's expected to sit against the Blue Jackets to make room for Jonas Brodin 's return. Hunt, who still requires waivers for AHL assignments, will sit for a second straight game.