Blue Jackets sign Merzlikins to five-year contract extension
The Blue Jackets’ goaltending situation has become crystal clear.
The net belongs to Elvis Merzlikins, who signed a five-year contract extension Tuesday worth $27 million — keeping him under contract through 2026-27.
Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo are both entering the final year of the two-year contracts they signed in April 2019. Asked in June if he wanted to extend his stay, the Merzlikins wasted no time answering.
“Yes, without a doubt,” he said. “I love Columbus. I am honest, always, with the people. It’s not New York. It’s not California. But this is Columbus. I like the green (of Ohio). Please find me, in New York, somewhere as green as here ... and fresh air. It’s awesome. We like Columbus, my wife likes Columbus, as well.”
Merzlikins’ new contract makes him part of a ‘reset’ process in which the Jackets’ roster has undergone a significant makeover. A host of former franchise pillars were traded and the front office is reforming its core group of NHL stalwarts by steadily locking up key players to contract extensions.
Merzlikins was the third player in less than a year to sign a five-year extension, following defenseman Zach Werenski and forward Oliver Bjorkstrand. Forward Boone Jenner agreed to a four-year extension and center Sean Kuraly signed a four-year deal.
Merzlikins got an average annual raise of $1.4 million from his current deal. He was also granted a limited notrade clause capped at 10 teams. In terms of yearly salary, Merzlikins will take home $5.25 million in 2022-23, $6 million in 2023-24 and 2024-25, $5.525 million in 2025-26 and $4.225 million in the final year.
Merzlikins and Korpisalo slumped last season, after each played at elite levels in 2019-20. Merzlikins, however, has capitalized most from stretches when he’s owned the starting role. He racked up five shutouts in his rookie season, all while Korpisalo was out, and six of his eight career shutouts have occurred with his counterpart sidelined.
Korpisalo, likewise, has shined without Merzlikins breathing over his shoulder.
Most notably, the Finnish net-minder excelled in the 2020 postseason and was a huge reason the Blue Jackets edged the favored Toronto Maple Leafs in that year’s qualification round.
It’s safe to assume Korpisalo will either be traded or leave as a free agent next summer.
Rinaldo not invited to camp over vaccination status
The Blue Jackets have a 100% vaccination rate among players invited to training camp, and they don’t intend to let Zac Rinaldo ruin it.
Despite Rinaldo signing a one-year, two-way NHL contract with Columbus on Aug. 13, the veteran forward was not invited to camp because he’s not vaccinated.
Rinaldo, 31, played last season for the Calgary Flames.
The NHL’S COVID-19 protocols require coaches and all staff members to be vaccinated in order to work with players this season. Players, who are represented by the NHL Players’ Association, are not under the same mandate.
The Dispatch has learned the NHLPA is “reviewing” the situation.
The Blue Jackets fired assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre last week because of his refusal to be vaccinated.
“When we think about vaccination, we have to think about our team,” said Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson. “We think about our fans. We think about our players and their families. We have a responsibility as the leaders of the organization. We wanted to get vaccinated. We want to wear masks as much as possible. It’s just the way it is.”