Player Discussion: The Elvis Thread

[CBJx614]

Elvis Merzlikins builds trust with Columbus Blue Jackets' goalies coach - Sports - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH

Pretty good read and insight on the kid.

"I heard he had a big chip on his shoulder and a big ego, and it's not true at all," Legace said. "Not even one bit. It's mistaken for competitiveness. That's what it's mistaken for. He's just an unbelievable human being. He treats everybody like gold."
There is an alter ego, but Legace doesn't think it's an issue.
"He's highly competitive," Legace said. "And he's going to rub some people the wrong way, because he's that highly competitive — just like Patrick Roy. He rubbed people the wrong way, too, so when I heard, 'He's got ego and this and that,' I'm like, 'It's competitiveness. That's what he's got.'"
Merzlikins also has a new friend, not to mention a new set of golf clubs.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Elvis Merzlikins builds trust with Columbus Blue Jackets' goalies coach - Sports - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH

Pretty good read and insight on the kid.

I find it funny that the CBJ goalie coach lives in Detroit in the off season and the Red Wings goalie coach lives in Columbus in the off season.

 

[EXTRAS]

So is he going to be backup in Columbus? Veini starter in Cleveland?

 

[Viqsi]

So is he going to be backup in Columbus? Veini starter in Cleveland?

That's the plan, although if Elvis plays really well he could end up the starter before year end.

 

[Madifer]

That's the plan, although if Elvis plays really well he could end up the starter before year end.

That would be too perfect.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

So is he going to be backup in Columbus? Veini starter in Cleveland?

I think training camp will dictate but I suspect this is a 1A/1B situation to start the season.

 

[42]

Elvis will take over the #1 job. I don't see Korpi as a starter.

 

[blahblah]

Elvis will take over the #1 job. I don't see Korpi as a starter.

I tend to think that Torts will give Elvis every opportunity to take that job and I tend to think that Elvis will do well enough to take it over. Having said that, Elvis will actually have to perform and Korps will have to not perform.

Neither are preordained.

 

[thebus88]

Elvis will take over the #1 job. I don't see Korpi as a starter.

Can you explain WHY?? Can anybody?

The, "1 guy has potential, the other doesn't", isn't enough for me, sorry.

We have NO IDEA how Merzlikins will be able to handle NHL players/shooters. How good do people think Korpisalo would have looked playing in the Swiss league recently, instead of playing 2-3 games a month against the best players in the world? The World C's where only a few teams are "full" of NHLers isn't enough to get a real idea of what we have in Merzlikins.

Prepare for Korpisalo to steal the show.

 

[Madifer]

Prepare for Korpisalo to steal the show.

Im not a buyer of this. Korpi is not a legit 1st goalie material. I hope he proves me wrong.

 

[42]

Can you explain WHY?? Can anybody?

The, "1 guy has potential, the other doesn't", isn't enough for me, sorry.

We have NO IDEA how Merzlikins will be able to handle NHL players/shooters. How good do people think Korpisalo would have looked playing in the Swiss league recently, instead of playing 2-3 games a month against the best players in the world? The World C's where only a few teams are "full" of NHLers isn't enough to get a real idea of what we have in Merzlikins.

Prepare for Korpisalo to steal the show.

It's more of a hope in the new guy, based on his stats in other leagues, because the old guy has disappointed in the NHL.

 

[blahblah]

Can you explain WHY?? Can anybody?

It's called hype; didn't realize it would invoke surprise nor needed an explanation.

I'll be honest, I've been waiting for him for 3 or 4 years now. What I saw back then I liked and I tend to think he'll do very well - sooner rather than later.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

We have NO IDEA how Merzlikins will be able to handle NHL players/shooters. How good do people think Korpisalo would have looked playing in the Swiss league recently, instead of playing 2-3 games a month against the best players in the world? The World C's where only a few teams are "full" of NHLers isn't enough to get a real idea of what we have in Merzlikins.

This is the proper analysis for Merzlikins. The idea that anyone but the most experienced scout or a pro coach would have a meaningful opinion about this guy is laughable.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I tend to think that Torts will give Elvis every opportunity to take that job and I tend to think that Elvis will do well enough to take it over. Having said that, Elvis will actually have to perform and Korps will have to not perform.

Neither are preordained.

I agree nothing is preordained but I tend to lean the other way regarding how things shake out between the goalies. My guess is Torts goes with a 2-1 split favoring Korp to start.

 

[EspenK]

It's Korpi's job to lose imo.

 

[blahblah]

I agree nothing is preordained but I tend to lean the other way regarding how things shake out between the goalies. My guess is Torts goes with a 2-1 split favoring Korp to start.

To start is different than week 4 obviously. Torts tends to enjoy forgetting that Korp exists after a while.

I give Korp the nod to start the season as the #1. That will probably last as long as it takes for Korp to have 2 or 3 bad games in a row.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

To start is different than week 4 obviously. Torts tends to enjoy forgetting that Korp exists after a while.

I give Korp the nod to start the season as the #1. That will probably last as long as it takes for Korp to have 2 or 3 bad games in a row.

Yeah I’m not gonna predict who’s gonna ‘emerge’ or ‘win’ the job and yeah Torts will change his approach as needed. Just what I expect to start is all.

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

Why can’t VV and Korpisalo be an option to start the season?

 

[blahblah]

Yeah I’m not gonna predict who’s gonna ‘emerge’ or ‘win’ the job and yeah Torts will change his approach as needed. Just what I expect to start is all.

I'm mainly just following my observation of Torts to be honest. He's actually fairly predictable.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Why can’t VV and Korpisalo be an option to start the season?

VV is going to start in Cleveland as he's the only one of the three goalies who is eligible to go to the minors. I think Elvis can too, but he has already refused assignment.

Korpisalo enters camp as the #1 in most peoples eyes. But some people don't expect that to stick.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I'm mainly just following my observation of Torts to be honest. He's actually fairly predictable.

Likewise. I'm thinking of the interview he gave where he was talking about Korp probably having an advantage because he (Torts) already knows him (Korp).

 

[NotWendell]

I'm becoming increasingly uncomfortable with this arrangement

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

VV is going to start in Cleveland as he's the only one of the three goalies who is eligible to go to the minors. I think Elvis can too, but he has already refused assignment.

Korpisalo enters camp as the #1 in most peoples eyes. But some people don't expect that to stick.

Elvis is on a 1 way deal. He gets paid NHL money if he's in the AHL or not. His NHL salary is more than he made in the Swiss league. I don't think he's going anywhere.

Did Rangers fans panic like this when Henrik Lundqvist came over from Europe and didn't play in the AHL? We are still a month away from the regular season beginning. Everyone should unclench their b holes and let the competition happen. No reason to panic until we are 3 weeks into the season and everyone has a GAA over 3.00.

 

[blahblah]

Everyone should unclench their b holes and let the competition happen. No reason to panic until we are 3 weeks into the season and everyone has a GAA over 3.00.

Perhaps we can rephrase in a way that isn't quite so uncouth? Can't speak for anyone else, but I'm not panicked. I'm a little annoyed we're running with this combo, but it's too late to worry about now.

 

[Dr. Fire]

I have no faith in Korpi. Other then his rookie season, his numbers have been terrible. Hopefully he proves me wrong. My hope is that Elvis is the J. Binnington of the 2019 - 2020 season.