The talks are ongoing.
As the season opener approaches Oct. 9 in Nashville, Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason and his assistants are trying to decide which goalie will start against the Predators. Will Elvis Merzlikins get top billing in Music City, or will Jet Greaves be cleared for takeoff at Bridgestone Arena?
“We’re having serious discussions on who should start,” Evason said Oct. 7 at Nationwide Arena. “We think that regardless of the choice we make, it’ll be a good one because both played extremely well in all the (preseason games they played), and not only that, but in practice, as well … their work ethic. There’s nothing separating (them).”
That’s a good sign for a team that needs improvement from its goaltenders to make a run at qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20. Evason said whichever one doesn’t start in Nashville is likely to start the second game Oct. 11 at the Minnesota Wild.
It could be the start of a balanced tandem approach, which Evason anticipates being a necessity with a packed schedule on both sides of the NHL’s Winter Olympics break in February. Merzlikins bristled early in training camp at the suggestion that Greaves could take over as the Jackets’ lead goalie, but he’s sounding more serene with the season looming.
“I think we are in a great position,” Merzlikins said. “The next 16 days, we might have one or two days off, so I need him, he needs me, and we’re doing this together for the team and our organization, and I’m excited for it.”
Merzlikins has prior experience splitting time with Joonas Korpisalo in Columbus, so reinstituting that approach with Greaves shouldn’t be an issue.
For his part, Greaves is excited to break camp with the Blue Jackets for the first time. He’s got his own place in Columbus now, is expected to play his first full NHL season and is beaming at the opportunity in front of him.
It’s been a challenging journey as an undrafted goalie who’s considered small for the position at 6 feet tall.
“When you’re growing up as a kid, you dream about playing in the NHL,” Greaves said. “I think all of us in this room recognize how much of a privilege it is to play this game for a living, and to do it in this league is something that’s super special. I’m excited about that, and in the same sense, there’s a lot of things that are similar. At the end of the day, it’s about stopping pucks and trying to win hockey games.”
Greaves stopped a few more in his preseason action, but Merzlikins handled some tough assignments while starting a couple of road games in Pittsburgh and Washington without having the Blue Jackets’ full NHL lineup dressed. Greaves went 1-1-0 with a 2.44 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in 147:25, while Merzlikins went 0-3-0 with a 2.88 GAA and .896 in 145:53.
Greaves finished last season scorching hot as an emergency replacement for Merzlikins, who missed the final five games with a concussion. Greaves almost backstopped the Blue Jackets to an unlikely postseason appearance with five straight wins and looked unflappable while doing it.
Merzlikins struggled with consistency for a third straight season, but he was razor sharp last year when he was at his best. Should he play that way more consistently and the Blue Jackets continue to get solid goaltending from Greaves, their biggest question mark could become one of their biggest strengths.
“It might be a situation where we need both guys, so at the end of the day, it’s always about the Blue Jackets winning hockey games,” Greaves said. “If it’s him in the net, I’m cheering for him and I’m his biggest supporter, and if I’m in the net, he’s mine. It’s nice to have that relationship with each other and support for each other, because whoever’s in the net is going to do whatever they can to help the team win.”
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social