Player Discussion: The Elvis Thread

[CBJWerenski8]

It’s not quite clear what’s going on with Merzlikins. On Friday, for a second straight day, he did not have a stall in the Blue Jackets’ dressing room.

But that might indicate what it typically does — that a player is out with a long-term injury, or otherwise not in the team’s plans — because the Jackets dressing room is over capacity following the late-season addition of several players. It’s so crowded that forward Jack Williams is dressing in a temporary stall in the middle of the room.
Merzlikins took part in Thursday’s morning skate, but left earlier than usual — even for that night’s starter — and was ruled out with an injury. That’s when the call was made to Greaves in Cleveland, who threw a pile of clothes into a suitcase and drove the 2 1/2 hours to Columbus.

Evason was asked if Merzlikins was injured during Thursday’s skate, and after thinking for a moment, said, “Nope.”That would suggest that Merzlikins was trying to play through an existing injury when he skated on Thursday, as Waddell indicated to reporters on Thursday that Merzlikins was injured.

 

[thebus88]

Johansen-itis

 

[Theo Von]

I cannot wait for the day when the elvis saga is no more and he is no longer in this organization. I hope that day comes sooner than later.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

I cannot wait for the day when the elvis saga is no more and he is no longer in this organization. I hope that day comes sooner than later.

This place will find another whipping boy very quickly. I guarantee it.

 

[stevo61]

This place will find another whipping boy very quickly. I guarantee it.

Welcome to sports where guys making millions of $ get called out for sub par play. This place is actually significantly more forgiving than most

 

[Monstershockey]

This place will find another whipping boy very quickly. I guarantee it.

Korpisalo was the whipping boy before Elvis, even more so. There will be another, there always is.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

I cannot wait for the day when the elvis saga is no more and he is no longer in this organization. I hope that day comes sooner than later.

based on that portzline article, that day may have already come. they don't have a stall for him in the dressing room right now.

but then again, maybe that's just wishful thinking. with how many extra bodies they have, they might've just moved jet to his stall temporarily.

This place will find another whipping boy very quickly. I guarantee it.

such is the nature of professional sports.

if you're a pro athlete and don't want to be a whipping boy among the fans, simply do your job. if you end up as a whipping boy anyway, so what? the trade-off of having the life of a pro athlete is still undoubtedly worth it.

where elvis failed off the ice was his inability to recognize that. he spent years reading the comments and then running his mouth about proving people wrong.

"get paid $5.4m/year to play a sport, but you have to Log Off" is not a faustian bargain.

 

[ClevelandJacketFan]

Korpisalo was the whipping boy before Elvis, even more so. There will be another, there always is.

Well, in both cases, if they didn't want to be the whipping boy, play better.

Multiple years of sub .900 save percentage. At some point, they have to take accountability for their play. My problem with Elvis is he clearly has the talent to be a good goaltender, but he is way too much of a head case to ever realize his potential.

Korpi, god bless him, just wasn't nearly as talented, and also a bit of a head case.

 

[Monstershockey]

Well, in both cases, if they didn't want to be the whipping boy, play better.

Multiple years of sub .900 save percentage. At some point, they have to take accountability for their play. My problem with Elvis is he clearly has the talent to be a good goaltender, but he is way too much of a head case to ever realize his potential.

Korpi, god bless him, just wasn't nearly as talented, and also a bit of a head case.

No doubt. Play better and all is well.

Korpi had some issues early on keeping his head, but I think he kind of solved them. You look at their career numbers and they are pretty similar.

 

[ClevelandJacketFan]

No doubt. Play better and all is well.

Korpi had some issues early on keeping his head, but I think he kind of solved them. You look at their career numbers and they are pretty similar.

Which is an indictment of Elvis, IMO, because Elvis is so much more talented, yet Korpi probably has had teh better career so far.

 

[Monstershockey]

Which is an indictment of Elvis, IMO, because Elvis is so much more talented, yet Korpi probably has had teh better career so far.

That's where we differ on these two. I have never really thought Elvis was really more talented than Korpi. I've always thought they were pretty similar. I would give the edge to Korpi, but that is based on other things other than just on ice talent. Korpi was by far the better team mate, and if Columbus would have went with him over Elvis, that would have been fine by me.

 

[thebus88]

Well, in both cases, if they didn't want to be the whipping boy, play better.

Multiple years of sub .900 save percentage. At some point, they have to take accountability for their play. My problem with Elvis is he clearly has the talent to be a good goaltender, but he is way too much of a head case to ever realize his potential.

Korpi, god bless him, just wasn't nearly as talented, and also a bit of a head case.

Korpisalo has always been the better goalie. What “talent” are you talking about?

Positionally, rebound control, overall movement, playing the puck, and nearly every other actually important trait, Korpisalo is the superior goalie. And that’s before you throw in the “mental” aspects and Merzlikins teammates literally not wanting to play in front of him.

People seem to also forget Korpisalo actually played VERY GOOD, in actually important games during his time with the CBJ, and against good teams. Merzlikins got a handful of shutouts a couple times over a couple months against a bunch of bad teams, and people made some WILDLY BROAD (and inaccurate) accusations and conclusions about how good he actually was as a goalie and how his career would go. And yet here we still are still to this day with this nonsense, after a failed half decade with Elvis as the POORLY chosen “starter”.

[MOD]

 

[MoeBartoli]

This place will find another whipping boy very quickly. I guarantee it.

Severson said don’t forget I’m still here.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Jet behind the same defense and same forwards has good stats in two years of games

Elvis and Tarasov (and Korpisalo before them) have earned their reputation. Yes, the defenses have been bad and the sample size is small for Jet.

There’s a reason Korpisalo wasn’t signed in LA. There’s a reason Ottawa shipped him out, and there’s a reason why Boston has him as a backup.

Elvis, if he even sticks in the NHL next year, is doomed for the same fate in all likelihood.

Tarasov is probably in the AHL or KHL next year.

 

[majormajor]

Korpisalo has always been the better goalie. What “talent” are you talking about?

Positionally, rebound control, overall movement, playing the puck, and nearly every other actually important trait, Korpisalo is the superior goalie. And that’s before you throw in the “mental” aspects and Merzlikins teammates literally not wanting to play in front of him.

People seem to also forget Korpisalo actually played VERY GOOD, in actually important games during his time with the CBJ, and against good teams. Merzlikins got a handful of shutouts a couple times over a couple months against a bunch of bad teams, and people made some WILDLY BROAD (and inaccurate) accusations and conclusions about how good he actually was as a goalie and how his career would go. And yet here we still are still to this day with this nonsense, after a failed half decade with Elvis as the POORLY chosen “starter”.

[MOD]

If you add up all of those traits you mention, Korpisalo should be a .920 goalie. He does move amazingly well and is very well controlled in the net. But the puck tracking is the biggest thing and he has stretches where he can't find the puck. That's why a guy like Greaves who doesn't have the size or athleticism can beat out a goalie like Korpisalo. He finds pucks faster and reacts faster.

 

[thebus88]

If you add up all of those traits you mention, Korpisalo should be a .920 goalie. He does move amazingly well and is very well controlled in the net. But the puck tracking is the biggest thing and he has stretches where he can't find the puck. That's why a guy like Greaves who doesn't have the size or athleticism can beat out a goalie like Korpisalo. He finds pucks faster and reacts faster.

I have never claimed Korpisalo is a hall of fame goalie.

I just contest that Korpisalo is a better goalie, and a better option, than a $1 million cap hit Merzlikins.

And a better OPTION (and just as good of a performer “under pressure” against good/playoff teams) than $10 million dollar cap hit Bobrovsky. Or any other $9-10 million dollar goalie.

What year is it? Either way, it’s undoubtedly fascinating how the feelings and perception have shifted regarding Elvis, eh? Sadly, it took this long.

 

[koteka]

What year is it? Either way, it’s undoubtedly fascinating how the feelings and perception have shifted regarding Elvis, eh? Sadly, it took this long.

I probably like Elvis now better than when he got the contract. I might be the only one who moved in that direction. I wouldn’t have given him that contract. I would have gone the free agent route because neither Elvis or Korpi seemed like the goalie of the future to me.

 

[Jovavic]

I probably like Elvis now better than when he got the contract. I might be the only one who moved in that direction. I wouldn’t have given him that contract. I would have gone the free agent route because neither Elvis or Korpi seemed like the goalie of the future to me.

Shit sandwich or turd sandwich, you must pick one