The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed some of their goaltending depth, reaching a two-year deal with Matiss Kivlenieks. The contract is two-way and gives the Blue Jackets a goaltender to leave exposed for the upcoming Seattle expansion draft.
In that case, the Blue Jackets are in a perfect situation even if they keep both their NHL goalies. Joonas Korpisalo is eligible for the expansion draft but Elvis Merzlikins isn’t, meaning they don’t have to make the decision on which one to keep this offseason if they don’t want. Both Korpisalo and Merzlikins have been in trade rumors over the last few weeks because of players like Kivlenieks, who is an interesting prospect in his own right.
Now 24, the undrafted Latvian netminder has been in the Columbus system for three years now. He has been inconsistent in the minor leagues but did at least hold his own in six NHL games this season. No, that .898 save percentage is not what you’re hoping for at the highest level, but in terms of a depth option that could be number four on the chart, it’s certainly no disaster.
The Blue Jackets also have Veini Vehvilainen and Daniil Tarasov under contract, meaning even if they do trade one of their NHL netminders the system still has enough talent to stand up. Kivlenieks will likely go back to the minor leagues when things get started, but now that he’s signed it seems probable that he’ll be loaned overseas like Vehvilainen and Tarasov.
I had no idea you could use a two-way contract to ‘expose’ another goalie. What is stopping teams from signing some ECHL goalie to a two way for the expansion draft to protect both their roster goalies? Seems easy (aside from having one of your 50 contracts taken up) but for teams like Columbus it appears to be a no-brainer.
Now the Canucks can sign Markstrom and Patrick Roy’s grandson and keep both Marky and Demko for the expansion draft!
You cannot protect two goaltenders. You have to expose at least one goaltender that is eligible for the draft and is signed through 2021-22. Before signing Kivlenieks, Korpisalo was the only goaltender that would fill that requirement. Merzlikins is not eligible for selection in the expansion draft.
Oohhhhh
Do the Blue Jackets have a farm where they raise European goaltenders with amazing names??
yes Latvia
Having multiple goaltenders also eats up the 50 spots.