Players for the Oilers are reportedly in favor of adding Merzlikins.
On his Oilers Now program, Ezoic Bob Stauffer and Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff discussed the goaltending situation in Edmonton. Speaking specifically about the possibility of acquiring Elvis Merzlikins through a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Stauffer revealed an intriguing piece of information: the players would support adding the goalie.
I dug into the possibility of acquiring Merzlikins, and Stauffer brought up an interesting point about the circumstance: Merzlikins’ agent, Gerry Johansson, is based in Edmonton, which raises the possibility of a trade relationship. Stauffer also mentioned that the Merzlikins and Columbus Blue Jackets are both willing to consider trying a new location.
The possibility of Merzlikins wearing an Oilers uniform is made even more intriguing by the high regard that Oilers players are said to have for him. Given his impressive results in the league and world championships, it appears the team is at ease having Merzlikins cover their net. Not that the players don’t think well of Jack Campbell. However, it seems that the players wouldn’t mind if Merzlikins was selected as the replacement if a change was made.
Merzlikins declared in a recent statement that he is steadfastly focused on the here and now and that he has worked to uphold his mental toughness and filter out outside viewpoints. This covers the potential for a trade elsewhere. He declared:
Should the Player Give Him Preference, Would Merzlikins Make Sense for the Oilers?
Merzlikins received praise from Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent, who praised his skill, intensity, emotional investment in the game, and improved goalkeeping control. Vincent emphasized how Merzlikins’ playing style had clearly changed. He stressed a greater sense of poise and intensity without sacrificing control, which is an important quality that was maybe absent in the previous season. Campbell appears to have a serious problem with that. The criticism is that he becomes mentally stuck and is too hard on himself. Put differently, when things go wrong, they get worse.
It’s possible that Merzlinkins’s playing style and skill are not the main problems. He might be under contract. His contract is set for three more seasons at a $5.4 million cap hit. How much of an upgrade is he, even if he is one? And does adding him really make the Oilers’ cap situation worse?
The goaltender’s mental toughness and on-ice skill become important considerations for the team as talk of Merzlikins possibly joining the Oilers picks up steam. A sense of expectation is added to the developing story by the possibility of a new goalie, supported by the coaching staff’s support and positive player sentiment.
