Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Elvis Merzlikins underwent surgery on Monday to repair an injured shoulder and is currently without a timeline for return, the team announced on Thursday.
“Elvis informed us a few weeks ago that he was experiencing some discomfort in his shoulder during his offseason workouts,” general manager Don Waddell said in a 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.”
Merzlikins had a 14-11-3 record with the Blue Jackets last season with an .883 save percentage and 3.40 goals-against average while splitting the net with fellow goalie Jet Greaves.
The Blue Jackets signed veteran Pheonix Copley to a one-year, $850,000 contract on July 1 and he figures to back up Greaves if Merzlikins is not ready for the regular season.
Merzlikins, 32, is entering the final season of a five-year, $27 million contract that carries a cap hit of $5.4 million. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
Drafted 76th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2014, Merzlikins has a career 108-111-38 record with a .900 save percentage and 3.22 GAA.
He is second in Blue Jackets history in wins, saves, and goaltender games played only behind Sergei Bobrovsky.
The Riga, Latvia, native represented his country six times at the World Championship, finishing as high as eighth place in 2018.
Columbus missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season last year with a 40-30-12 record.
They are set to open training camp on Sept. 16 and open the pre-season on Sept. 21 against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Blue Jackets begin the 2026-27 season at home against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 1.
