Confirmed Signing with Link: [CBJ] Elvis Merzlikins signs extension with the Blue Jackets (5 years, $5.4M AAV)

[YP44]

who is this?

 

[Revansky]

Similar contract as Matt Murray. Better potential for value. Hovering around .920 is good starter number, a bit unproven though. Medium Risk, High reward potential.

 

[Wyzer Plan]

Where is Korpisalo going?

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Was hoping the Avs would find a way to nab this guy, good deal imo.

 

[HabsQC]

I don't know him enough I guess. I know he had a stellar start of his career, but the numbers ki d of surprise me. Good for him.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I would have bet on Elvis instead of Korpisalo, and Columbus needs to sign some guys long term to stabilize the franchise a bit (similarly the Werenski deal). Good signing.

 

[Mogo]

Among top 10 most paid goalies in league now?

I mean he did promise to win the vezin this year

 

[Mickey Marner]

Solid deal.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Its an important piece locked up for long term. If they were able to do that with some other important pieces would be looking good now but understand their situation. But this is a win for them and if going forward they can get their best players to stay on board they will go in the direction they want.

 

[Just Linda]

Best contract signing of the day

 

[ViD]

Korpisalo is a much better goalie.

He gone

 

[The Moose is Loose]

Seems like an unnecessary risk giving him this kind of money and term.
A bridge deal would have made sense, especially when you consider its going to be very unlikely he puts up great numbers this year and if he does then you pay the man his money.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

Korpisalo is a much better goalie.

Oilers are in need.

 

[Viqsi]

Guys underrated I see. Great young goalie signed for prime years. Low starters money, only seems high compared to his games played.

The general rule of thumb is that anybody who's only ever played for Columbus is inevitably underrated. They become fairly rated (or occasionally overrated) if they started elsewhere or if they ever leave. The sole exception to the rule is Rick Nash, and that was because folks were preemptively anticipating his departure.

I'd gripe about smaller markets not getting proper attention, but frankly given his ludicrous sales jobs it's probably largely Doug MacLean's fault, like so much else.

* * *​

Among top 10 most paid goalies in league now?

I mean he did promise to win the vezin this year

Didn't promise per se, but he did say that's what he was going for.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

The general rule of thumb is that anybody who's only ever played for Columbus is inevitably underrated. They become fairly rated (or occasionally overrated) if they started elsewhere or if they ever leave. The sole exception to the rule is Rick Nash, and that was because folks were preemptively anticipating his departure.

I'd gripe about smaller markets not getting proper attention, but frankly given his ludicrous sales jobs it's probably largely Doug MacLean's fault, like so much else.

* * *​

Didn't promise per se, but he did say that's what he was going for.

Someone just posted that Puljujarvi is an AHL level bust. Lots of posters don't watch the games and play the homer role with their own club. Stat watch without any context. It is what it is.

 

[Viqsi]

Someone just posted that Puljujarvi is an AHL level bust. Lots of posters don't watch the games and play the homer role with their own club. Stat watch without any context. It is what it is.

Oy. Yeah, welcome to 2019 and all that. I mean, I haven't watched Puljujarvi in years and certainly don't know how Puljujarvi is doing, but I'm at least aware that there's a consensus he's on an upward swing of late.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

Oy. Yeah, welcome to 2019 and all that. I mean, I haven't watched Puljujarvi in years and certainly don't know how Puljujarvi is doing, but I'm at least aware that there's a consensus he's on an upward swing of late.

He honestly surprised a lot of us. Hard forecheck, board battled and was a physical presence in front of the net while be solid defensively. Offense wasn't there, maybe in time though. Fingers crossed.

 

[Breakers]

He's not top 10 in pay

He's 13th

 

[Fred Glover]

who is this?

It’s Aivis Kalnins

 

[MoeBartoli]

Yes! And I’m not sure I’d take Gibson, Bennington, Murray or Quick. And Demko, Saros, Howard and Ulmark are all over $5M. I’d agree there’s some risk as the track record lacks lengthy but the term is reasonable the ceiling is high.

 

[Bubbles]

Seems like Columbus is really overpaying guys to keep them in the city. After Panarin, Duchene, Bobrovsky, Jones, and Dubois left they needed to reshape their image to players in the league that guys want to play there. This is another case of that to me.

Not really overpayed. You're getting a goalie entering his prime (he's 27). Korpisalo is a UFA and will command top dollar while Merzlikins will provide solid starter goaltending for a bargain price.

 

[stevo61]

Yes! And I’m not sure I’d take Gibson, Bennington, Murray or Quick. And Demko, Saros, Howard and Ulmark are all over $5M. I’d agree there’s some risk as the track record lacks lengthy but the term is reasonable the ceiling is high.

Id agree with most of those names but not Gibson. Give Anaheim a few years or put him on a good team and he'll be back in the discussion for one of the top goalies in the league.

 

[Xoggz22]

My thoughts too. Throwing money at anyone willing to stay in Ohio.

Throwing money would be more than an 8% raise over his salary this year. As a pending UFA making $5MM this year he's going to get a raise somewhere and it's a small one from Columbus. He carries a career 920 S% and has shown he can steel games with 7 SO in 61 games. I get he doesn't support the long NHL pedigree yet but this is a reasonable deal both ways

 

[Lolonegoal]

I mean you make a good call and dodge signing Bobrovsky, and then turn around and do this with a guy who's probably going to split time in net? How do blue jackets fans feel about this?

 

[CupofOil]

Weird that Demko's contract was universally praised while this one questioned. Similar level goalies, similar experience, close in age. The contract seems about right to me for Elvis based on the market.