Columbus Blue Jacket’s 2024-25 player results: Goalkeeper – Hockey Writer – Columbus Blue Jacket

The Columbus Blue Jacket gave up 267 goals in the regular season, the eighth goal in the NHL. Although this indicates a defensive failure, goalkeepers are sometimes a major issue. The defensive core often makes goaltenders in tough situations, but a more consistent network can make everything change too. With better goalkeepers, the team was able to cut the difference despite their other struggles to get the playoffs.

Related: Columbus Blue Jacket’s 2024-25 Player Level: Defensive Player

After grading the forward group and defensive core, it’s time to rate the three network levels that appeared in Columbus this season.

Elvis Merzlikins: C-

Elvis Merzlikins won a C- in his season. At the age of 31, he was supposed to bring consistency and veteran stability to the network, but his game was up and down again. He played 53 team-high games and recorded 3,171 minutes. During that time, he faced 1,557, made 1,389 saves and allowed 168 goals. This put him on average with 3.18 goals, a savings percentage (SV%) at .892, and closed with a 26-21-1 record and a game, which was his best record as a blue jacket.

On the ice, Merzlikins made improvements as the leader in the locker room, which was a highlight. He admits he has been shut down in the past few years, but feels the team chemistry this season has helped him more. “When I came here the season started, when training camp, the locker room was different. I saw the locker room completely different. This locker room, what we have today, we have something we like to go there.

That said, Melzlikins may stay on the blue jacket regardless of whether the fans like it or not. His contract makes it difficult for him to move, and general manager Don Waddell made it clear that the acquisition wasn’t on the table but was just a potential deal. “It’s not something we’re looking at,” Wardle said. “I can’t say how the summer has performed, but so far we haven’t talked about it.” Despite his leadership growth, Melzlikins hasn’t proven that he can be the organization’s number one goalkeeper for a long time. I love that guy, but at best he might be more suitable for the substitute if his game didn’t go up to its initial level.

Daniil Tarasov: D+

Daniil Tarasov won a D+ this season. At the age of 26, he had the opportunity to establish himself as a key part of goalkeeper tandem, but he worked hard to follow up on the promises he showed last season. In 20 games, he recorded 1,100 minutes, faced 544, made 479 saves and allowed 65 goals. His GAA was 3.54, accounting for .881 SV% and a 7-10-2 record, including a closing.

Last season, Tarasov’s numbers were even more encouraging. He played 24 games in the NHL game with a GAA of 3.18, SV% of .908 and 8-11-3 record. Even in the American Hockey League (AHL), his performance has dropped. In 2023-24, he played four games for the Cleveland Monsters with a GAA of 2.57 and .915 SV%. This season, he played in just two AHL games, ending with 2.96 GAA and 0.908 SV%.

Related: Blue Jackets Should Keep Moving From Daniil Tarasov This Summer

Tarasov is a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights and his future feels uncertain. When Jet Greaves is summoned, he is demoted to the third string and it is difficult to see how he adapts to the long-term plan. Although he performed well occasionally, his inconsistency was a major issue. Tarasov’s performance this season has put the team in the key points in the standings and needs to reduce his goals, and I don’t think he has a part of the solution.

Jet: A-

Greaves was the highlight of the Blue Jacket this season, winning the A-winning A for him in the game between pipes. At the age of 24, when Merzlikins was out, he was called several times. Although he didn’t stand out immediately, Greaves made a lot of starts at the end of the season between Cleveland and Columbus, and it was when he really started to “take off.” In 11 NHL games, he played 660 minutes, faced 339, made 318 saves and allowed 21 goals. He ended with a GAA of 1.91, accounting for .938 SV and ended with a 7-2-0 record.

Greaves is exciting about how much potential his young mesh will have. He has a lot of room for improvement and I think he might be the “guy” of the team next season. Currently, he is helping Cleveland in the Gard Cup playoffs, where he has already made a strong start. In two playoff games against Toronto Maris, he had a GAA of 2.13, accounting for .914 SV and a 2-0-0 record. Greaves shows he’s ready to play a bigger role and it’s time to see if he can keep that level throughout the season. He has all the tools to solidify himself, which is a key part of the future of the blue jacket in my eyes.

The goalkeeper of the Blue Jackets didn’t meet expectations this season. Merzlikins struggled with consistency, and Tarasov retreated, and while the defense occasionally disappointed them, the goalkeeper’s efforts didn’t make up for it. Greaves is a clear highlight in the net, and the staff is wise to bet on him to move forward.