The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed goalie Elvis Merzlikins to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports the contract carries an average annual value of $4 million.
The Blue Jackets have signed goalie Elvis Merzlikins to a two-year contract extension.#CBJ | @Merzly30https://t.co/EbRwvQzUjO
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 23, 2020
Merzlikins, 26, had an impressive rookie season with the Blue Jackets before the shutdown, posting a 13-9-8 record with a 2.35 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and five shutouts. This season, he played on a one-year contract worth $874,125 and was set to become a restricted free agent in the off-season.
Originally a third-round pick of the Blue Jackets in 2012, Merzlikins appeared in 210 games with Lugano in the Swiss National League from 2013-19 before making the jump to the NHL.
“We’ve believed for several years that Elvis Merzlikins was the best goaltender outside the NHL while he was playing in Switzerland and this year he has shown that he has the ability and drive to be a very good goaltender in this league,” general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. “He is quick, athletic and driven to succeed and we are excited to see what the future holds for Elvis and our hockey club.”
The contract comes less than a week after the Blue Jackets signed starter Joonas Korpisalo to a two-year contract that will pay him $2.8 million a season.