Aaron Portzline of The Athletic joined the Blue Line Blast Podcast with Jim Biringer and Matthew Blittner to discuss the trade conversation surrounding Kent Johnson and Elvis Merzlikins and which of the two players might be on the way.
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Jim Biringer: “A couple of names that you know, that have been in the rumor mill for the past couple of years are Kent Johnson and obviously Elvis Merzlikins. Do you see these two players who might be on the way as trade chips to help this roster improve now, so they can win?”
Aaron Portzline: “So I think it’s two different situations. I think they’re scared to death to sell Kent Johnson, because they know what’s inside that player. They saw it. They didn’t see it last year. I saw it last year. So far in his manager, he’s been a player who plays and, not again, to be able to go through the year.
He is the most talented player on the team, not even close. Yes, (Zach) Werenski is on the team. Kent Johnson is the most talented player on the team. He is also an easy player, and something happened last year where he seemed to lose the progress he made last year. So light up the pucks. I’m always rag-dolled. He’s never going to be a big guy, he’s never going to be a great forward, but that kind of commitment off the ice and his level of competition should grow.
Elvis Merzlikins is a completely different situation. His contract will not be bought, he confirmed that yesterday (Monday). If you have to ask, well, not a good sign. I think there is a trade market there, maybe, but it wasn’t there before. And I say maybe because of all the space now, I think groups can be aggressive.
Where do things stand with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Zach Werenski?
I’m not sure if it’s a bad trade for someone to make, because I know Elvis has struggled for four years, but he might have to trade like I think the Blue Jackets did for him. I think they are forced to change that position. I’m not sure they will.
They have a start in Jet Greaves, but Elvis has really struggled. Anytime you see two goalies on the same team separated by more than 30 points in save percentage, I say that’s not the team. There is a difference there with a goalkeeper. I think they see Jet Greaves as a starting goalie between 50 and 55. I think they’d be much better off if they had a 25-, 27-, or 30-game goaltender with a save percentage around .900, and Elvis hasn’t come close to that in four years now.
So I feel like that’s an area where they can really improve. We talk about all these, who will come back and who won’t. If you’re going to change a team’s culture, you can certainly do so by holding them to a high standard. I don’t think there’s a faster way to do it than to really upset the way the room is, to change the dynamics of the room.
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So, if the captain leaves, I think that’s part of it. I think the goalkeeper can be a part of that—changing that end of the dressing room, giving them a different look coming into the season, I think is very important.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Columbus Blue Jackets continue to hear their name thrown around in the rumor mill. Kirill Marchenko, Zach Werenski, Kent Johnson, and now Elvis Merzlikins. There was talk about Merzlikins a few years ago. Since Greaves is the starter now, he needs to change positions, and the team needs to go in a different direction.
Columbus, as Aaron Portzline said, doesn’t want to let go of Kent Johnson, because of the talent and skill he has. They don’t want to risk him being traded to another team and becoming the player they expected him to be.
Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has to do what’s right for his team and players, but it’s a busy season in Columbus with a lot of moving parts.
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