Blue Jackets dealt tough Elvis Merzlikins update before new season

Elvis Merzlikins has undergone surgery to repair a shoulder injury, and the Columbus Blue Jackets have not given a timetable for when their veteran goaltender will be back in net.

The 32-year-old first felt discomfort during offseason workouts, and an MRI led directly to the decision to operate rather than try to manage it through rehab alone.

This is a tough break for a goalie who was already fighting for his job heading into training camp.

Merzlikins posted a 14-11-3 record with an .883 save percentage last season, numbers that ranked among the worst of his career, while Jet Greaves emerged as Columbus' likely starter for 2026-27.

He's entering his eighth season in Columbus, and this was supposed to be a make-or-break camp for him to prove he still belongs in the mix.

Instead of walking into camp ready to compete for that job, Merzlikins will now spend the early part of the season on the mend.

Details on the surgery itself are still limited.

The team hasn't specified which shoulder was affected or the exact nature of the repair, and the front office has stayed mostly quiet beyond confirming the procedure went well.

Reports out of Columbus suggest the discomfort built gradually over the summer before doctors decided surgery was the smarter route rather than pushing through it into the season.

Columbus hasn't released a specific recovery window, and it's unclear if Merzlikins will be ready for the start of next season.

With Greaves already positioned as the likely No. 1, this injury could speed up a transition that already looked like it was coming.

Merzlikins is signed through the 2026-27 season with a $5.4 million cap hit, and a lengthy recovery would only add more pressure to a goaltending picture the Blue Jackets have been trying to sort out all offseason.

Zach Sawchenko and Ivan Fedotov remain in the system as depth options if Columbus needs extra help in net.

For now, Blue Jackets fans are left waiting on updates as their longtime netminder begins a recovery with no clear finish line in sight.

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