Player Discussion: The Elvis Thread

[Iron Balls McGinty]

I'm fine if they move on from Elvis and I know that is the general consensus of this board. However, I'm not 100% convinced that is what Dean and Waddell are thinking. We don't know how the locker room went this year. Seemed like Dean did trust Elvis. Yes, he mentioned the Colorado game as a bad one but it does seem like Elvis took the blame for that one. Elvis lost the spot to Jet here at the end because he got hurt, not because Dean benched him.

On the other hand, they have no confidence in Tarasov and there is no way he'll be back unless they are all on board with him trying to rekindle his career in Cleveland.

I think GMDW and Evason gave Elvis a clean slate and we saw improvement and I saw no attitude issues this season.

This board however holds grudges like nobody's business and a lot of people didn't give him the clean slate and that clouds some vision towards him.

Was he inconsistent? Yes. Did he have great stretches? Yes. Did he have poor ones? yes. Is the defense in front of him also very inconsistent? Yes. Did he have ONE slip up late in the season where he got a bit frustrated while the whole team was playing poorly? Yes.

I'll trust GMDW and Evason on what they see on a daily basis. We do need better goaltending and better defense. This place is so desperate to name Jet the savior. He may well be but it is way too soon to do that. His level of play over the last week is not sustainable or an entire season and he realisitically lives somewhere in the middle.

Long story short, he's not as bad as people here make hm out to be with the personal digs I see people make and DW and DE know way more than anyone on this board will ever know. Is he the long term starter probably not but having him split time with jet next season is probably a feasible opportunity over eating salary by buying him out or retaining in some sort of trade.

If we find an upgrade, then cool but that's going to be much harder than people think. A buyout is a lot more attainable now than it was last season. I just don't really see an attainable replacement on the market I'd trust that makes it worth it unless DW pulls off a blockbuster.

 

[Xoggz22]

anyone think there is a chance Elvis would agree to a contract termination if they told him

be prepared to back up Jet next season.

I don't think so but you never know.

I believe you need a reason for contract termination in the NHL. but maybe that's because it's so rare to see. Typically some level of breach of contract, but maybe not. There have been players on low level deals that have contracts terminated. I don't see Elvis agreeing to that when he can pocket $5+MM annually the next two years.

The way that could happen would be to demote him to the AHL and he refuses assignment. Then they can put him on waivers for contract termination. However, I don't see any way that happens either because that would mean he' still here through the offseason and into camp. That is highly unlikely. He certainly isn't going to be a backup and there is absolutely no chance he's the starter. So...that said, he's gone one way or another. Contract termination would be amazing, but I imagine it's via trade with retention or a bad contract back.

 

[Nanabijou]

I believe you need a reason for contract termination in the NHL. but maybe that's because it's so rare to see. Typically some level of breach of contract, but maybe not. There have been players on low level deals that have contracts terminated. I don't see Elvis agreeing to that when he can pocket $5+MM annually the next two years.

The way that could happen would be to demote him to the AHL and he refuses assignment. Then they can put him on waivers for contract termination. However, I don't see any way that happens either because that would mean he' still here through the offseason and into camp. That is highly unlikely. He certainly isn't going to be a backup and there is absolutely no chance he's the starter. So...that said, he's gone one way or another. Contract termination would be amazing, but I imagine it's via trade with retention or a bad contract back.

I doubt Elvis would take it either, but it can be done if both player and team agree to terminate contract. Saad did that this year so he could sign with Vegas.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

I think GMDW and Evason gave Elvis a clean slate and we saw improvement and I saw no attitude issues this season.

Absolutely concur with bolded.

He didn't do anything that could be construed as a "bad attitude". I've seen Oettinger smash a stick recently after a loss and many other goalies have emotional outbursts. I saw none of that from Elvis. If he had a few moments where he wasn't all rainbows and lollipops in his attitude, there weren't many or very pronounced. Hockey players aren't mannequins-especially goalies -they'll show some emotions at times. So what.

I haven't any idea about behind the scenes, but probably no one else here does.

I do think that it's time to move forward without Elvis. His performance levels of the past several seasons warrant this. With so much cap room and available trading assets, obtaining a goalie better than Elvis can easily be done IMO. The CBJ are a team on the improve and I think that the "window is open" regarding post season success. I don't see Elvis as part of this equation.

 

[LJ7]

I honestly think the next step in the growth and maturity arc for Elvis is potentially taking a backseat to Greaves next season. There's no easy way out of the contract. Adding a 3rd goalie to the organization to fill Jet's AHL/NHL role would be wise. Ideally that goalie would perhaps be good enough to work their way in to Merzlikins spot if need be as well, but I don't see any better option in the trade market or free agency that would excite me more than rolling with Jet as the starter next season.

 

[Xoggz22]

I honestly think the next step in the growth and maturity arc for Elvis is potentially taking a backseat to Greaves next season. There's no easy way out of the contract. Adding a 3rd goalie to the organization to fill Jet's AHL/NHL role would be wise. Ideally that goalie would perhaps be good enough to work their way in to Merzlikins spot if need be as well, but I don't see any better option in the trade market or free agency that would excite me more than rolling with Jet as the starter next season.

Personally, I'm tired of looking for growth and maturity from Elvis after 6 years in the organization. He's 31 years old and, not trying to chastise you, thinking him taking a backseat will improve the situation is comical at best. He wasn't a bad teammate this year. I truly thought he improved and there has been nothing to indicate that he's a malcontent or a problem. However, he's still not showing consistency to be a starting NHL goaltender. He doesn't make the critical saves (feels like ever) and he still let's in soft goals with regularity. Unfortunately he still feels he is a starting NHL goaltender. That's not going to happen in Columbus so we would be left with an awful situation as much as we might want it to work. I see absolutely no conceivable way he's with the CBJ come September.

And my apologies if you felt I was pointing a finger at you. Your post felt like it fit my reply, but nothing negative toward you intended.

 

[LJ7]

Personally, I'm tired of looking for growth and maturity from Elvis after 6 years in the organization. He's 31 years old and, not trying to chastise you, thinking him taking a backseat will improve the situation is comical at best. He wasn't a bad teammate this year. I truly thought he improved and there has been nothing to indicate that he's a malcontent or a problem. However, he's still not showing consistency to be a starting NHL goaltender. He doesn't make the critical saves (feels like ever) and he still let's in soft goals with regularity. Unfortunately he still feels he is a starting NHL goaltender. That's not going to happen in Columbus so we would be left with an awful situation as much as we might want it to work. I see absolutely no conceivable way he's with the CBJ come September.

And my apologies if you felt I was pointing a finger at you. Your post felt like it fit my reply, but nothing negative toward you intended.

I didn't take your post that way at all, we're both debating a very problematic player that we are left with no clean solution to. Strong disagreements are built in to the discussion surrounding what to do with it.

If Elvis prefers to leave the NHL over backing up Jet then that's his decision. His only NHL option is very likely being as good of a soldier as he's capable of and playing behind Greaves here. He stands to lose a lot of money and comfort if he does not accept that. Many of us found the possibility of him becoming a good teammate comical going in to the year prior to this season, but he made it happen because that was his only option. Going forward his only option is to be a very well paid backup for the Blue Jackets, or go back to Europe.

 

[614 CBJ]

I believe you need a reason for contract termination in the NHL. but maybe that's because it's so rare to see. Typically some level of breach of contract, but maybe not. There have been players on low level deals that have contracts terminated. I don't see Elvis agreeing to that when he can pocket $5+MM annually the next two years.

The way that could happen would be to demote him to the AHL and he refuses assignment. Then they can put him on waivers for contract termination. However, I don't see any way that happens either because that would mean he' still here through the offseason and into camp. That is highly unlikely. He certainly isn't going to be a backup and there is absolutely no chance he's the starter. So...that said, he's gone one way or another. Contract termination would be amazing, but I imagine it's via trade with retention or a bad contract back.

Saad and the Blues done it this year

I think just both parties have to agree

unlikely Elvis would I agree

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Personally, I'm tired of looking for growth and maturity from Elvis after 6 years in the organization. He's 31 years old and, not trying to chastise you, thinking him taking a backseat will improve the situation is comical at best. He wasn't a bad teammate this year. I truly thought he improved and there has been nothing to indicate that he's a malcontent or a problem. However, he's still not showing consistency to be a starting NHL goaltender. He doesn't make the critical saves (feels like ever) and he still let's in soft goals with regularity. Unfortunately he still feels he is a starting NHL goaltender. That's not going to happen in Columbus so we would be left with an awful situation as much as we might want it to work. I see absolutely no conceivable way he's with the CBJ come September.

And my apologies if you felt I was pointing a finger at you. Your post felt like it fit my reply, but nothing negative toward you intended.

I'm 48 years old and continuing to look for growth and maturity of my own in many different ways. Some times it comes slower than we want it to. We HAVE SEEN growth and maturity.

I think we need to drop the agenda that Elvis the person is a problem. I've always felt that was a bit overblown anyway.

The issue is stopping pucks. This should not be about Elvis the person. It should be about his skills as a goalie and I think sometimes people can't separate the 2.

 

[majormajor]

I honestly think the next step in the growth and maturity arc for Elvis is potentially taking a backseat to Greaves next season. There's no easy way out of the contract. Adding a 3rd goalie to the organization to fill Jet's AHL/NHL role would be wise. Ideally that goalie would perhaps be good enough to work their way in to Merzlikins spot if need be as well, but I don't see any better option in the trade market or free agency that would excite me more than rolling with Jet as the starter next season.

Elvis with retention on his contract is probably a good tandem candidate that teams would be interested in acquiring. He hasn't been that bad and has the talent.

I'm 48 years old and continuing to look for growth and maturity of my own in many different ways. Some times it comes slower than we want it to. We HAVE SEEN growth and maturity.

I think we need to drop the agenda that Elvis the person is a problem. I've always felt that was a bit overblown anyway.

The issue is stopping pucks. This should not be about Elvis the person. It should be about his skills as a goalie and I think sometimes people can't separate the 2.

The issues with Elvis and the club are largely not to do with his skills and ability to stop pucks. Certainly that was the case prior to this year. This year we had fences mended to some great extent. Elvis was told to focus on his relationships with his teammates (not an overblown issue) and there was some benefit from that.

He remains a bad fit here because of the drama and noise he brings with him, and I don't mean the drama in the media. I mean the emotional noise factor, he gets very high and very low about himself and that is a problem for a young team like ours. There are better fits out there for him, he has the skills and ability at least as a tandem goalie and I think there are veteran clubs that can handle him.

 

[joybang]

The biggest problem with Elvis is he simply isn’t very good. The vast majority of his career he’s been average to below average. It’s honestly wild to me people think there’s some unfair agenda against him.

 

[koteka]

The issues with Elvis and the club are largely not to do with his skills and ability to stop pucks.

Dude is ranked 40 something in the league in goals against at 3.18 and 40 something in the league with an .892 save percentage. The number one issue with Elvis is his ability to stop pucks. He could microwave fish in the locker room and nobody would care if he had .920 save percentage and 2.25 goals against average.

The issue is stopping pucks. This should not be about Elvis the person. It should be about his skills as a goalie and I think sometimes people can't separate the 2.

100%. There have been great teams where teammates absolutely hated each other. The 1974 Oakland Athletics won the World Season but they had a club house fight between Reggie Jackson and Billy North where Ray Fosse ended up in the disabled list for months because he was injured trying to break up the fight. And remember when Shaq famously rapped “Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes.”

 

[majormajor]

Dude is ranked 40 something in the league in goals against at 3.18 and 40 something in the league with an .892 save percentage. The number one issue with Elvis is his ability to stop pucks. He could microwave fish in the locker room and nobody would care if he had .920 save percentage and 2.25 goals against average.

League average is .900 and we have a below average defense that bleeds dangerous chances. Elvis isn't too far off. If it is purely based on his technical ability we don't have much reason to trade him, we are as good a spot for him as any other team and might as well ride out his contract.

What makes us an especially bad for him, and him for us, is the mental dynamics.

100%. There have been great teams where teammates absolutely hated each other. The 1974 Oakland Athletics won the World Season but they had a club house fight between Reggie Jackson and Billy North where Ray Fosse ended up in the disabled list for months because he was injured trying to break up the fight. And remember when Shaq famously rapped “Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes.”

We've seen countless times how much better teams are when they like each other.

It's also odd to cite the NBA to support your point because NBA superteams have sometimes had disastrous seasons because the players didn't like each other.

 

[koteka]

League average is .900 and we have a below average defense that bleeds dangerous chances. Elvis isn't too far off. If it is purely based on his technical ability we don't have much reason to trade him, we are as good a spot for him as any other team.

You don’t have to tell me that our defense is bad. To be very clear - Elvis is a mediocre to kind of bad goalie playing behind a bad defense so he has bad goalie stats. But Elvis is nowhere near a top 15 goalie in this league.

I want to win Cups. I don’t want to get into arguments about whether Provorov or Severson or Elvis is a legit NHL player. I want to argue whether they are the kind of guy who fits in well on a championship level team. To me the problem with Elvis is I don’t ever imagine him winning a cup even if he was playing with Makar, Slavin, Josi, McAvoy, Werenski, and Seider in front of him. Now, we aren’t winning the Cup next year so I am willing to keep him around (or pay him his salary to play in Cleveland or Switzerland) to avoid long term potential cap issues of a buyout.

 

[majormajor]

You don’t have to tell me that our defense is bad. To be very clear - Elvis is a mediocre to kind of bad goalie playing behind a bad defense so he has bad goalie stats. But Elvis is nowhere near a top 15 goalie in this league.

I want to win Cups. I don’t want to get into arguments about whether Provorov or Severson or Elvis is a legit NHL player. I want to argue whether they are the kind of guy who fits in well on a championship level team. To me the problem with Elvis is I don’t ever imagine him winning a cup even if he was playing with Makar, Slavin, Josi, McAvoy, Werenski, and Seider in front of him. Now, we aren’t winning the Cup next year so I am willing to keep him around (or pay him his salary to play in Cleveland or Switzerland) to avoid long term potential cap issues of a buyout.

We were not debating whether Elvis was a cup winning or top 15 goalie in the league, I don't even know what I'm supposed to say to this.

 

[CBJ goalie]

I can reasonably see Jet being promoted and splitting duties with Elvis.
Healthy competition can be beneficial.

 

[koteka]

We were not debating whether Elvis was a cup winning or top 15 goalie in the league, I don't even know what I'm supposed to say to this.

The argument is whether the biggest problem with Elvis is his play or his behavior.

You think it is his behavior. You dismiss his bad stats as the result of a bad defense.

I think he is at best a mediocre goalie playing behind a bad defense. But I don’t really want to argue about how good Elvis is or isn’t. He is not good and his teammates know it. That is the problem. I am trying to avoid you finding some obscure stat and saying “Well according the hnlj7 stat, Elvis is the 8th best goalie when playing in games where neither goalie gives up 5 or more goals and the …”

 

[thebus88]

I'm 48 years old and continuing to look for growth and maturity of my own in many different ways. Some times it comes slower than we want it to. We HAVE SEEN growth and maturity.

I think we need to drop the agenda that Elvis the person is a problem. I've always felt that was a bit overblown anyway.

The issue is stopping pucks. This should not be about Elvis the person. It should be about his skills as a goalie and I think sometimes people can't separate the 2.

Merzlikins, Jackets agree to part: 'I'm not a backup goaltender'

Elvis may be about to leave the building.The Columbus Blue Jackets and Elvis Merzlikins agreed to find "a new scenario" for the goaltender, he told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline on Friday. However, Merzlikins clarified he hasn't formally asked for a trade."I love Columbus. I love these guys. I...

thescore.com

His “personality” and his ability at stopping the puck, BOTH SUCK.

I can’t wait until the stories we get when he’s finally gone. I assume the excuses for him from the “fan club” will be just as “laughable”, as is essentially ANY defense of him at this point, IMO.

 

[thebus88]

The issue is stopping pucks.

The issues with Elvis and the club are largely not to do with his skills and ability to stop pucks.

Back to back posts. You’re both right.

The biggest problem with Elvis is he simply isn’t very good. The vast majority of his career he’s been average to below average. It’s honestly wild to me people think there’s some unfair agenda against him.

And then the 3rd post in a row. The correct, level headed post. The defenses of this guy, from “day 1” were bad enough, at this point now, they are borderline unbelievable, IMO.

 

[Viqsi]

Merzlikins, Jackets agree to part: 'I'm not a backup goaltender'

Elvis may be about to leave the building.The Columbus Blue Jackets and Elvis Merzlikins agreed to find "a new scenario" for the goaltender, he told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline on Friday. However, Merzlikins clarified he hasn't formally asked for a trade."I love Columbus. I love these guys. I...

thescore.com

His “personality” and his ability at stopping the puck, BOTH SUCK.

I can’t wait until the stories we get when he’s finally gone. I assume the excuses for him from the “fan club” will be just as “laughable”, as is essentially ANY defense of him at this point, IMO.

I have never seen anyone so obsessively, bullheadedly determined to hold grudges as you have been. Let it go, FFS.

 

[thebus88]

League average is .900 and we have a below average defense that bleeds dangerous chances. Elvis isn't too far off. If it is purely based on his technical ability we don't have much reason to trade him, we are as good a spot for him as any other team and might as well ride out his contract.

What makes us an especially bad for him, and him for us, is the mental dynamics.



We've seen countless times how much better teams are when they like each other.

It's also odd to cite the NBA to support your point because NBA superteams have sometimes had disastrous seasons because the players didn't like each other.

The issue is that a hockey goalies “technical ability” and “mental dynamics” go hand in hand, almost always.

With that said, IMO, Elvis is CLEARLY a terrible goalie, when it comes to his “technical ability” and simple positioning, skills, and overall ability as a goalie.

I agree completely with the importance of a team having cohesion and getting along. I’ve attempted to get across even how MORE IMPORTANT that is when it comes to a hockey teams goalie.

 

[thebus88]

I have never seen anyone so obsessively, bullheadedly determined to hold grudges as you have been. Let it go, FFS.

Let WHAT go? What “grudge”!?! He just RUINED ANOTHER SEASON!!

WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE IS THIS? Am I not allowed to post any negative -level headed- comments on Elvis, without being PERSONALLY ATTACKED. The HORROR!! Blatant personal attack adding nothing to the discussion that breaks the rules. As usual and expected. Do you.

Is the problem now that I can’t still continuously be called a “hater”, “delusional”, and “wrong”?

 

[NotWendell]

Elvis will be back as the backup goalie next season, but only because nobody will take his contract.

 

[majormajor]

The argument is whether the biggest problem with Elvis is his play or his behavior.

You think it is his behavior. You dismiss his bad stats as the result of a bad defense.

I think he is at best a mediocre goalie playing behind a bad defense. But I don’t really want to argue about how good Elvis is or isn’t. He is not good and his teammates know it. That is the problem. I am trying to avoid you finding some obscure stat and saying “Well according the hnlj7 stat, Elvis is the 8th best goalie when playing in games where neither goalie gives up 5 or more goals and the …”

I thought I made my position more clear than that - that an .892 goalie on this team might be closer to .900 (league average) on a team with league average defense. Maybe .895, maybe .900, who knows.

There's no ringing endorsement of Elvis here, and no stats are being dismissed. So I'd like to not be put in a position where that is being strawmanned as my position. It's best to take me literally and to quote my words if you're trying to describe my position.

On a finer grained note, "behavior" will make it seem like I'm accusing Elvis of something. I'm really talking about his mindset, specifically his highs and lows about himself. I don't think that fits with a young team like ours and that is why I think he should be traded.

 

[NotWendell]

If the defense were better, Elvis would be better. But if Elvis were better, the defense would be better.