Elvis Merzlikins: "I'm not a backup, I will not be a backup"

[Connor MethDavid]

Agree with Elvis. I am also not a back-up, and I also will not be a back-up. If teams have been calling to ask, I don't know. I don't pay attention to potential phone calls asking me to back-up NHL teams in goal.

 

[Flyer lurker]

I do think he's a legit starter.. but he'd need to join a team with a solid D core like the Knights or Avs. I'm an Oil fan.. so I'll pass.

Is Elvis one of the top 32 goalies in the league? Sure
Based on salary is he one of the top 32 valuable goalies in the league? Probably not

There is a difference.

 

[TheNumber4]

Is Elvis one of the top 32 goalies in the league? Sure
Based on salary is he one of the top 32 valuable goalies in the league? Probably not

There is a difference.

Is he though? Here’s his last run of starts before Jarmo mysteriously decided to shelve him and shelter him from more play. What’s Jarmo hiding?!

.857
.886
.906
.896
.897

Jarmo stopped the bleeding at .857 by playing his organizational #3 as a Starter to the confusion of CBJ fans, media, and Elvis himself.

 

[Pandaman11]

Shutout incoming tonight.

Why? Because after his drama, and after Vancouver was a goalie killer last week (they ate my two NY Russians in fantasy for breakfast, which is costly, as it's a swap league), my opponent from this week just added Elvis for a stream start.

 

[ottawa]

Sure it playing like a backup right now, granted it's the Canucks

 

[majormajor]

Is he though? Here’s his last run of starts before Jarmo mysteriously decided to shelve him and shelter him from more play. What’s Jarmo hiding?!

.857
.886
.906
.896
.897

Jarmo stopped the bleeding at .857 by playing his organizational #3 as a Starter to the confusion of CBJ fans, media, and Elvis himself.

It's looking like more of a masterstroke.

Jarmo makes a fool of himself to make Elvis look good. He gives the net to Tarasov, who puts up, in the last two games:

.829
.783

Elvis gets the net back today and they beat the Canucks, .900 against the top shooting percentage club, 4/4 in the shootout.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

He’s a starter alright. AHL starter.

That's incorrect. He's a backup in the AHL.

People don't understand how bad Jack Campbell is...

 

[MCR74]

Got news for you, Elvis. If you have to say you're not a backup, chances are you're a backup.

 

[TheNumber4]

It's looking like more of a masterstroke.

Jarmo makes a fool of himself to make Elvis look good. He gives the net to Tarasov, who puts up, in the last two games:

.829
.783

Elvis gets the net back today and they beat the Canucks, .900 against the top shooting percentage club, 4/4 in the shootout.

Hey I’m not saying it’s a good or bad strategy. I’m just saying he’s doing that strategy. Elvis’s yearly numbers did go down today though with the .900. GMs tend to use larger sample sizes and not just one game to make their valuations though.

 

[majormajor]

That's incorrect. He's a backup in the AHL.

People don't understand how bad Jack Campbell is...

You're correct but this is not the Campbell thread.

Hey I’m not saying it’s a good or bad strategy. I’m just saying he’s doing that strategy. Elvis’s yearly numbers did go down today though with the .900. GMs tend to use larger sample sizes and not just one game to make their valuations though.

Some might value things with season long numbers, some with recent numbers. The smart way though is to turn the decision over to the best pro goalie scouts and have them figure it out. They know what goalies are really responsible for. That way you would know not to sign Jack Campbell despite his glowing save percentage in Toronto.

 

[TheNumber4]

You're correct but this is not the Campbell thread.



Some might value things with season long numbers, some with recent numbers. The smart way though is to turn the decision over to the best pro goalie scouts and have them figure it out. They know what goalies are really responsible for. That way you would know not to sign Jack Campbell despite his glowing save percentage in Toronto.

We’ll have to see what the best goalie scouts think about Elvis when he’s acquired. Can’t argue on the Campbell front, I was against the signing before it happened.

 

[Clint Eastwood]

I can't believe Kevin Hayes has convinced Elvis to request a trade.

 

[Hockeyfan2390]

Sorry, Elvis.

 

[Michoulicious]

Sorry, Elvis.

How does Jarmo still have a job.

Mindblowing.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Er, does someone want to tell him that he's really not that great?

Merzlikins wants new scenario, 'won't be backup' for Blue Jackets | NHL.com

Goalie scratched 3 times since Dec. 29, hasn’t asked for trade

www.nhl.com

"Being third, No. 3, just like this in one moment, that shocked me, that surprised me,” Merzlikins said Friday. “But then talking to my agent and agent’s talking, we agreed on a new scenario. There has to be a new scenario for me for my career, I believe.”

He said he has not asked for a trade.

“I just want to be treated as No. 1. I believe that I am No. 1,” Merzlikins said. “It didn’t get to that point that I’m requesting (a trade). It went to the point that both sides agreed.”

Merzlikins said he never felt he was the No. 2 when he battled Korpisalo for the starting job the past few seasons and he feels the same now.

“I’ve told you many times, I’m not a backup, and I won’t be backup,” Merzlikins said. “I believe in myself. You can call me arrogant. … I’m not arrogant, I’m just confident. I know I’m not No. 2 or 3 and I won’t be it.”

Has he tried being a better goaltender then?

 

[Fishy McScales]

A little less conversation, a little more action please

 

[Elysian]

I'll admit, the only time I've watched him is when Dallas is lighting him up, but he's in pretty good company on this chart:

 

[TheNumber4]

would you rather him say "gee guys I stink so bad I deserve to be a backup"? like what else is he supposed to say?

I mean, he said that last year. So why not?

 

[WATTAGE4451]

Lol where did I say I speak for other people? And a goalie claiming he’s owed a number one position is a disgrace. Awful entitled mentality. You work with what you’re given and if you don’t feel you’re getting played enough, you do something to change minds.

He vastly outplayed the other 2 goalies. What else is he supposed to do? I think a lotnof you have his 2022-2023 in your minds and not rhus years performance. He has been better than half the statters in the league. And the 2 guys that were dressing ahead of him had been playing woeful and tons worse. Its puzzling why he was getting scratched. He did nothing to lose his starting job this season.