Elvis Merzlikins Injury: Out After Shoulder Surgery

The Elvis Merzlikins injury is now a surgery, not a sore shoulder he was going to play through. BlueJackets.com said club president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell announced Thursday that the 32-year-old goaltender underwent surgery Monday to repair an injured shoulder. The surgery was successful. There is no timetable. NHL.com put the same update more bluntly: Merzlikins is out indefinitely and will be evaluated again in a few weeks.

"Elvis informed us a few weeks ago that he was experiencing some discomfort in his shoulder during his offseason workouts," Waddell said in the team release. "Following an MRI, it was determined that surgery was the best course of action. He'll be evaluated again in a few weeks at which time we'll have a clearer idea on when he will be back on the ice." Training camp opens Sept. 16. The preseason starts Sept. 21 against Detroit. The regular season opens Oct. 1 against Buffalo. That is a short runway with no return date attached.

Elvis Merzlikins injury timeline, and the backup job it was supposed to be

NHL.com recapped the 2025-26 line: 14-11-3, a 3.40 goals-against average, an .883 save percentage, and one shutout in 30 games (29 starts), his seventh season in Columbus. BlueJackets.com added the career sheet. Merzlikins has 274 NHL games, a 108-111-38 record, a 3.22 GAA, a .900 save percentage, and 12 shutouts since his 2019-20 debut. He ranks second on the franchise's all-time goaltending lists in games, wins, and saves (7,367) behind Sergei Bobrovsky. Columbus drafted him 76th overall in 2014.

USA Today's Brian Hedger, in the Columbus Dispatch, wrote that Merzlikins was expected to open camp as the backup to Jet Greaves, who took the starting job last season and signed a three-year, $15 million extension on July 23. The Elvis Merzlikins injury removes that plan until the next evaluation. Hedger also noted one year remains on Merzlikins' five-year contract at a $5.4 million cap hit. The Charlotte Observer, publishing the Waddell comments Friday morning, said veteran Pheonix Copley is expected to back up Greaves if Merzlikins is not ready, after signing a one-year deal on July 1.

What the Blue Jackets do until the next MRI

BlueJackets.com listed the dates in hard ink. Camp is Wednesday, Sept. 16, with the first on-ice workout the next day. The preseason opener is Monday, Sept. 21 vs. the Red Wings at 7 p.m. ET at Nationwide Arena. The 26th-season opener is Thursday, Oct. 1 vs. the Sabres, also 7 p.m. ET at Nationwide. NHL.com has the same schedule. None of those games currently has Merzlikins attached to them. "Successful surgery" is the medical headline. "No timetable" is the hockey one.

Columbus already spent the summer on other roster noise. Toronto just heard Morgan Rielly say he expects to stay a Maple Leaf. The Jackets' crease question is simpler and worse: Greaves is the starter, the veteran insurance just had his shoulder opened, and Waddell will not guess at a date. The Elvis Merzlikins injury does not close camp. It just means the net behind Greaves is a live argument until that next evaluation.

Elvis Merzlikins injury FAQ

What is the Elvis Merzlikins injury? A shoulder injury that required surgery on Monday, Aug. 17. BlueJackets.com said the operation was successful. NHL.com said he is out indefinitely.

How long is Elvis Merzlikins out? No timetable. Waddell said he will be evaluated again in a few weeks, per the team and NHL.com. Camp opens Sept. 16.

Who starts in goal for the Blue Jackets? Jet Greaves took the job last season and signed a three-year, $15 million extension in July, USA Today reported. Pheonix Copley is the expected backup if Merzlikins is not ready, per the Charlotte Observer.