COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets may be without goaltender Elvis Merzlikins when the 2026-27 season starts.
Merzlikins, who complained to the club last month about discomfort in one of his shoulders, had surgery to fix the problem Monday, according to a team news release. The Blue Jackets said there is no established timetable for Merzlikins’ return.
“Elvis informed us a few weeks ago that he was experiencing some discomfort in his shoulder during his offseason workouts,” Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said in the statement. “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.”
The Blue Jackets did not specify which procedure was done on the shoulder. The recovery time can vary dramatically depending on the procedure.
Columbus opens training camp Sept. 16, with the regular-season opener set for Oct. 1 against Buffalo.
Merzlikins lost the starter’s job to Jet Greaves last season, and is entering the 2026-27 season in the final year of a contract that pays him $5.4 million per season. If he’s sidelined, look for Pheonix Copley, who was signed as a free agent in early July, to play in support of Greaves.
Last season, Merzlikins went 14-11-3 with a 3.40 goals-against average and an .883 save percentage.
