Latvian goalkeeper Elvis Merzlikins has extended the contract with the National Hockey League (NHL) team Columbus “Blue Jackets” for another five years, the club informs.
The new contract will run from the 2022/2023 season to the end of the 2026/2027 season, during which time Merzlikkin will receive $ 27 million. He currently has a two-year, eight-year contract with the team last year.
The 27-year-old Merzlikkin will start his third season in the NHL in October, where he has won 21 of 61 matches in his career so far, scoring an average of 2.54 goals, repelling 92.0% of throws and standing “dry” seven times.
Since his debut, Merzlikkin has been fourth in the NHL in the repulsed throws, sixth in the “dry” games and 11th in the average puck between goalkeepers who have played at least 50 matches.
Last season, Merzlikins went to the field in 28 fights, in which he won eight, averaged 2.77 discs and defeated 91.6% of the throws.
“Blue Jackets” chose Merzlikkin in the 2014 NHL draft with number 76.
From 2013 to 2019, Merzlikkin played in the Swiss Premier League (NL), representing Lugano. In total, in 210 matches, he scored an average of 2.63 goals, defeated 92.0% of throws and won 15 “dry” victories. He was twice named the best goalkeeper of the NL season.
Merzlikins has represented the Latvian national team in four world championships.
The Blue Jackets remained in eighth place in the Central Division last season and did not qualify for the Stanley Cup.
Last season, Merzlikkin shared the goal with Jonas Korpisalo from Finland, whose contract will end after the upcoming season. In total, the Blue Jackets team had seven goalkeepers last season, including Matīss Kivlenieks, a Latvian who passed away this summer.
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