Player Discussion: The Elvis Thread

Did he say that today?

True or not, you can't have a player ripping on other aspects of the team.

Though if this is his response to Jarmo seemingly dragging Elvis' play, then I can somewhat understand Elvis' frustration.
It was from The Athletic article from about 4 hours ago.

I'd take it as a rip on the coaching staff and not the players, but I get your point. I still think it's funny given how awful the PP is.
 
Roy hated losing but he also had ice in his veins. Maybe it's unfair to Elvis because he has played better this year but I have no faith he is ever going to make the big save when it's needed. In the best Bob years I felt nobody was going to beat him when we needed the save (in the regular season). Elvis does not give off that same confidence.
Except for the time he fought Chris Osgood. Or the time he fought Mike Vernon. Or the time he fought Randy Burridge in 1987.

Or the time he threw a fit and demanded to be traded because the Canadiens wouldn't pull him.

Extremely passionate people go over the top on occasion.

I was so proud of Elvis the other day taking no comments from the media then this happens /sigh. I am sorry but this is diva level material. If you have a problem with playtime and such keep that in house. This comes across as further "me me me" comments like "I am gonna win a Vezina" or "It was all my doing this summer (in regards to the comment in a media interview asking if the new CBJ goalie coach helped him get his game back)". I am sure the players, especially the other two goalies, LOVE seeing this aired out in the public to see like we don't have enough issues this year. Feels like this was a knee jerk reaction to yesterday and Elvis ran to the media to make sure he is traded sooner than later. Nobody wants this type of stuff lingering around, especially in a locker room.

I don't see it as diva material at all. Elvis doesn't speak i sports cliches and dance around questions. People ask questions on why he hasn't been playing and all we've been getting were stock answers from Pascal.

Elvis didn't run to the media. The media asked to talk to him and the team allowed him to be available after declining yesterday. He answered the questions he was asked with an honest opinion.

What's the most annoying to me is that this dirty laundry is now all in the public. We just had a great example of how to deal with this stuff when Anaheim and Philly did their Gauthier and Drysdale deal. That's how it should go. Leave these comments for after-the-trade. If this was supposed to make any GM covet Elvis more, I think they misjudged...
I'm not sure it impacts anything. If anyone was inquiring about a trade, they were going to wonder why he hasn't played in 2 weeks. Someone was going to have to say something. How is a GM supposed to covet a guy sitting on the bench of a last place team?

It was from The Athletic article from about 4 hours ago.

I'd take it as a rip on the coaching staff and not the players, but I get your point. I still think it's funny given how awful the PP is.
I don't take this as a rip on anybody. He's simply saying as a goaltender it's not his job to know anything about the power play.

People used to ask Torts questions about goaltending and he would say he doesn't know a thing about it. He just wanted them to stop pucks and everything else was a goalie coach's job. Same principle.
 
I don't take this as a rip on anybody. He's simply saying as a goaltender it's not his job to know anything about the power play.

People used to ask Torts questions about goaltending and he would say he doesn't know a thing about it. He just wanted them to stop pucks and everything else was a goalie coach's job. Same principle.
Well, hopefully during the power play, the puck is far away from him most the time.
 
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This whole thing makes no sense. He’s right, why did he jump from 1 to 3? He’s played well this year. Plus he wants to play and win here. Unfortunately when you’re a team like Columbus that’s a factor.

This could be a combination with the FO, but man do I hate the way Vincent handles the lineup. I do not at all understand the love and excuses he gets on this board. I think he’s done an absolute horse shit job.
Are they trying to force him off the team and try to unload his contract as much as possible ?
 
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It was from The Athletic article from about 4 hours ago.

I'd take it as a rip on the coaching staff and not the players, but I get your point. I still think it's funny given how awful the PP is.
Oh my god...yeah he's gonna get ran off.
 
I think this goes way further back than Legace's dismissal. A year ago we were talking about death threats with fans and Elvis' family. It got very weird and very bad. Not long before that we were talking about PTSD from the cannon blasts.



That part wasn't even newsworthy though. Of course he wants to play and thinks he should be #1. He certainly hasn't been outplayed by anyone.

The newsworthy part is that they have an agreement to move him when they can, which seems like it might be a longstanding agreement.

The weirdest quote of the day is Jarmo talking like Elvis' level of play has been the problem. That's been the only surprising thing I've read today.

spot on major. spot on.
 
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I think the team has handled this badly. Elvis has been much improved this year. The prudent way to handle this situation would be to quietly play Elvis as the starter while looking for a way to move him, and then play Tarasov the heavy minutes to see if he could handle it once Elvis is gone. I mean if we are at the point where we just need him out of the building, you maybe could have found a way to trade him while retaining $2 million in salary. That would be way better than the nightmarish buy out scenarios being contemplated last year. Now that everyone sees what is going on, who is going to want Elvis without major concessions from the Jackets.

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I have no idea what this team is doing with goalies. I just hope the leave Jet alone for the rest of this season and let him be successful in Cleveland. And I hope the let Ivanov stay in Russia and develop for a few more years.
 
Absolutely baffling how this situation has been handled . They act like Spencer Martin is this great find on the waiver wire , and since he can’t be traded due to him being a waiver pickup, we need to carry 3 goalies . Elvis has been good this year, especially when you consider this defense, and the abysmal coaching staff that’s been assembled . Just another L for Jarmo , who honestly should be fired into the sun at this point .
 
I think the team has handled this badly. Elvis has been much improved this year. The prudent way to handle this situation would be to quietly play Elvis as the starter while looking for a way to move him, and then play Tarasov the heavy minutes to see if he could handle it once Elvis is gone. I mean if we are at the point where we just need him out of the building, you maybe could have found a way to trade him while retaining $2 million in salary. That would be way better than the nightmarish buy out scenarios being contemplated last year. Now that everyone sees what is going on, who is going to want Elvis without major concessions from the Jackets.

View attachment 802110

I have no idea what this team is doing with goalies. I just hope the leave Jet alone for the rest of this season and let him be successful in Cleveland. And I hope the let Ivanov stay in Russia and develop for a few more years.
Here‘s my take on Elvis so far this year. I’m limiting my comments to on ice performance without commentary or consideration regarding his interviews and actions that may impact the locker room dynamics.

Elvis has certainly been better this year which I attribute to his mindset and goalie coaching change. His save average is mid pack and he’s made some big saves this year. His on ice shortfalls have been at the end of games where we’ve allowed too many teams to come back in the last 5-10 minutes. But that’s not been all Elvis as his teammates have been all in on the collapses, each player doing their part.

His on ice performance, like that if this team, is a work in progress. But it well may be those locker room/management dynamics makes his NHL future elsewhere.
 
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I think the team has handled this badly. Elvis has been much improved this year. The prudent way to handle this situation would be to quietly play Elvis as the starter while looking for a way to move him, and then play Tarasov the heavy minutes to see if he could handle it once Elvis is gone. I mean if we are at the point where we just need him out of the building, you maybe could have found a way to trade him while retaining $2 million in salary. That would be way better than the nightmarish buy out scenarios being contemplated last year. Now that everyone sees what is going on, who is going to want Elvis without major concessions from the Jackets.

View attachment 802110

I have no idea what this team is doing with goalies. I just hope the leave Jet alone for the rest of this season and let him be successful in Cleveland. And I hope the let Ivanov stay in Russia and develop for a few more years.
That was the original plan no doubt. There was too much smoke regarding the oilers trade. Someone balked because the price would had been probably a 1st, 2nd, 4th for Elvis (the 1st/2nd is probably the cap dump alone) and we would take back Campbell and buy him out eventually. Either situation would require a buyout of some sort of a goalie and internally figure it was probably better buying out Elvis than Campbell which means Oilers lowballed us.
 
I’ve watched less and less over the last few years, probably a bit more this year than last, but from what I’ve seen, Merzlikins hasn’t played nearly as good this year as some are attempting to pass off.

IMO, he’s clearly been outplayed by Martin. Both Martin and Greaves look like better goalies. Greaves is probably the best out of the group and looks like a long term backup option, at the very least.

What really adds to (or essentially MAKES) the goalie position a REAL issue is that the guy that many have looked at as having a promising future and is now getting starts, in an apparent attempt to see if he is an acceptable option as a “starter”, is the only guy actually looking as bad or worse than Merzlikins. Elvis should still be looked at as the #3 IMO, the backup at the very best if you keep Greaves in the AHL. But, Elvis isn’t a “backup”, he’s a DIVA. And a SHIT GOALIE.

I think there is absolutely more things behind the scenes involving Merzlikins, related to what has been hinted at from comments we have been getting. This goes all the way back to Foligno and that group and Elvis rubbing those guys the wrong way, way back then. Not to mention, look at all the things he says from the other goalies’ POV. From Korpisalo to all the other current guys.

His over the top reactions involving opposing players having contact with him, and the (lack of) reaction and negative body language from his teammates has been something to notice for AWHILE. The Tom Wilson thing is just the tip of the iceberg.

Lets also not forget all the “1 upping” and negative body language Elvis has directed towards his teammates/defenseman on the ice MANY times. It seems the team has finally had enough, too bad it took so long.


Good Riddance
 
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Absolutely baffling how this situation has been handled . They act like Spencer Martin is this great find on the waiver wire , and since he can’t be traded due to him being a waiver pickup, we need to carry 3 goalies . Elvis has been good this year, especially when you consider this defense, and the abysmal coaching staff that’s been assembled . Just another L for Jarmo , who honestly should be fired into the sun at this point .

Carrying 3 goalies is not the problem. That doesn't cost us anything, unless you have a qualm with Eric Robinson being traded to make room.

The problem is the best goalie (Elvis) isn't playing.

His on ice performance, like that if this team, is a work in progress. But it well may be those locker room/management dynamics makes his NHL future elsewhere.

It's got to be off ice stuff.

Either situation would require a buyout of some sort of a goalie and internally figure it was probably better buying out Elvis than Campbell which means Oilers lowballed us.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting here.

I buy that Campbell would just be a summer buyout, he's not NHL caliber. That or Campbell would just be buried in the AHL for the rest of his deal (so that the costs won't extend into our competitive window). Either way the OIlers would be paying us the picks to take on those costs.

Elvis would be basically free in the deal, that or slightly negative value if Jarmo was in a hurry to dump him.
 
Well now would be a great situation to give the reigns back to Elvis, if he hadn't told everyone he's not willing to be a backup and make an issue about it
 
Well now would be a great situation to give the reigns back to Elvis, if he hadn't told everyone he's not willing to be a backup and make an issue about it

I think you play Elvis. Who cares what he said? I’d waive Tarasov and let him back up Jet. And hopefully get his confidence back. Or waive Martin who could back up Jet. I don’t think either gets claimed unless a team has an injury the day we waive.
 
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3. It’s not about his play

Vincent has made it clear that Merzlikins’ demotion was not performance-related, that the Blue Jackets just really wanted to see how Tarasov would handle No. 1 duties. But that’s really only half the story.

This is personal.

The Blue Jackets have wanted Merzlikins to embrace all aspects of being a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL — the consistently high level of play, of course, but also being a reliable and steadying influence in the dressing room.

Nobody will speak publicly about this issue, but multiple sources have told The Athletic — not just this year, but over the last few years — that Merzlikins is a source of frustration for some players in the room. They’re not sure he’s ever going to embrace the franchise goaltender’s role entirely.


I'm going to play devil's advocate here: What if the people who have a problem with Elvis are really the ones with a problem? Elvis speaks his mind and tells the truth and sometimes the truth hurts. That can rub people the wrong way as it did with Torts but I'm willing to bet we've got a whole slew of bad attitudes on a sh*tty losing team. I sort of feel like it might be a bit wrong to pin this all completely on him but sometimes people don't want to look in the mirror.
 

3. It’s not about his play

Vincent has made it clear that Merzlikins’ demotion was not performance-related, that the Blue Jackets just really wanted to see how Tarasov would handle No. 1 duties. But that’s really only half the story.

This is personal.

The Blue Jackets have wanted Merzlikins to embrace all aspects of being a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL — the consistently high level of play, of course, but also being a reliable and steadying influence in the dressing room.

Nobody will speak publicly about this issue, but multiple sources have told The Athletic — not just this year, but over the last few years — that Merzlikins is a source of frustration for some players in the room. They’re not sure he’s ever going to embrace the franchise goaltender’s role entirely.


I'm going to play devil's advocate here: What if the people who have a problem with Elvis are really the ones with a problem? Elvis speaks his mind and tells the truth and sometimes the truth hurts. That can rub people the wrong way as it did with Torts but I'm willing to bet we've got a whole slew of bad attitudes on a sh*tty losing team. I sort of feel like it might be a bit wrong to pin this all completely on him but sometimes people don't want to look in the mirror.
i Know Elvis was really close with Gavrikov. Other than that, I don’t really know who he’s close with in the room. He doesn’t post much about The team online. I just worry he’s an outcast here and his honesty to the media has gotten him in hot water. It’s one thing to hold others accountable privately, which is fine, but it’s another to do it publicly.
 

3. It’s not about his play

Vincent has made it clear that Merzlikins’ demotion was not performance-related, that the Blue Jackets just really wanted to see how Tarasov would handle No. 1 duties. But that’s really only half the story.

This is personal.

The Blue Jackets have wanted Merzlikins to embrace all aspects of being a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL — the consistently high level of play, of course, but also being a reliable and steadying influence in the dressing room.

Nobody will speak publicly about this issue, but multiple sources have told The Athletic — not just this year, but over the last few years — that Merzlikins is a source of frustration for some players in the room. They’re not sure he’s ever going to embrace the franchise goaltender’s role entirely.


I'm going to play devil's advocate here: What if the people who have a problem with Elvis are really the ones with a problem? Elvis speaks his mind and tells the truth and sometimes the truth hurts. That can rub people the wrong way as it did with Torts but I'm willing to bet we've got a whole slew of bad attitudes on a sh*tty losing team. I sort of feel like it might be a bit wrong to pin this all completely on him but sometimes people don't want to look in the mirror.

This has been an issue with Merzlikins since DAY 1 when he hit the locker room. Crazy that anybody could think he isn’t the issue here still. You think it’s 2 groups involving different players over 5 or so years that are the issue?? HE obviously is the guy who can’t handle the truth, is borderline delusional at times, and is terribly “unprofessional” when looking at it in regards to pro sports.

Anybody want to put any weight behind those Gudbranson comments, yet? Or do people still think it’s about Larsen running drills??

I think I’d like to spend some time searching my posts from the past regarding Merzlikins and his relationship with his teammates. Pretty sure I’ve mentioned things plenty of times and been called out on it as a “hater”, as usual.

Things you could see on the ice regularly. Terrible body language from him directed towards his teammates, and they almost always returned with this same type disengagement with him, like they were always trying to not acknowledge him.

The language difference and his attitude or mindset is always looked at as an excuse, or somehow as a positive trait. It’s OK being confident, or even arrogant. The problem is you (the player) has to be a spectacularly skilled or a legitimately GREAT player for it to offset the negative aspects, or for your teammates to accept it or put up with it.

The problem is that Elvis is NOWHERE near that type of player/goalie. And he NEVER was. It was a literally unsustainable two week stretch of shutouts playing behind a super defensively focused team, that he and a group of fans have acted like was his regular performance or an actual “ceiling” for him to reach. Crazy that he ever got that contract and we’ve pissed away these years with him as our goalie.
 
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i Know Elvis was really close with Gavrikov. Other than that, I don’t really know who he’s close with in the room. He doesn’t post much about The team online. I just worry he’s an outcast here and his honesty to the media has gotten him in hot water. It’s one thing to hold others accountable privately, which is fine, but it’s another to do it publicly.
I mean possibly and probably. But it also doesn't mean he's wrong in what he says. I know a photo was posted online around Christmas where he was out to dinner with all of the Russians.

He sort of muted his online presence after the death threat thing last year and he also has a family he wants to spend time with. We never saw online photos of Nick Foligno floating around town having dinner or bar hopping with a bunch of teammates either so it's hard to say what the dynamic is. The only players who post to social media a lot are the young unmarried guys.
 
Just saw on Twitter that Elvis is getting the start against the Canucks tomorrow.
Good luck to him, facing one of the best teams in the League after a couple weeks off.
 
Just saw on Twitter that Elvis is getting the start against the Canucks tomorrow.
Good luck to him, facing one of the best teams in the League after a couple weeks off.
Ultimately the Canucks are getting thrown off with the travel from Buffalo and no ice time today or tomorrow before the game since its a 1:00 start but wouldn't it be something if Elvis has a spectacular game tomorrow?

I can just picture Jarmo squirming in his seat in the press box.
 

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