Why Jet Greaves Is Ready To Replace Merzlikins as Blue Jackets’ No. 1 Goalie

His third year represented a large step forward. Greaves finished with a 7-2-2 record with a .938 save percentage and a 1.91 goals against average. Should his career continue to trend in the right direction, it will be an easy decision for Columbus to trust him with the starter’s net.

That’s because veteran Elvis Merzlikins has struggled in recent years. The 31-year-old Latvian has slumped to three consecutive seasons of sub-.900 save percentages.

Merzlikins announced himself to the league with an impressive 2019-20 rookie season. He compiled a 13-9-8 record, a 2.35 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. His performances earned him All-Rookie Team honors and fifth-place finishes for the Calder and Vezina trophies.

Unless Merzlikins can recapture his best form, the Blue Jackets will shift their trust to Greaves. That said, Greaves will need to prove that he has enough “Jet fuel” to repeat his strong cameo numbers across a full NHL season in the starter's role.

On Sunday, Columbus acquired Ivan Fedotov from the Philadelphia Flyers for a 2026 sixth-round pick to solidify their goaltending depth.

Blue Jackets fans will be eager to see how the situation plays out during the 2025-26 season. Columbus narrowly missed out on the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. If they’re able to get more reliable goaltending, it could be the difference between securing a playoff berth and missing the postseason.