Elvis Merzļikins Bio
Elvis Merzļikins is a Latvian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on 13 April 1994 in Riga, Latvia, he has built a remarkable career in ice hockey. Before joining the NHL, he played for HC Lugano in Switzerland, where he achieved significant success by winning the Jacques Plante Trophy as the league’s best goaltender in 2016 and 2018. Drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Merzļikins made his NHL debut in 2019 and has since represented Latvia in various international competitions, showcasing his skills on the global stage.
Early Life and Background
Elvis Merzļikins was born on 13 April 1994 in Riga, Latvia. He was named after Elvis Presley, as his father was a fan of the legendary musician. Merzļikins grew up in Latvia and developed his passion for hockey at a young age in his hometown of Riga. He began his hockey journey in Latvia before moving to Switzerland to pursue higher-level competition.
Merzļikins grew up multilingual, speaking Latvian, English, Russian, and Italian. His early development in hockey took place in Latvia, where he honed his skills as a goaltender before making the transition to professional hockey in Switzerland.
Elvis Merzļikins Career
HC Lugano Years (2009–2019)
Merzļikins joined HC Lugano in 2009, playing in the National League with a Swiss player license. He made his National League debut during the 2012–13 season on 28 September 2013 in a 2–1 victory over Lausanne HC. At the end of the 2013–14 season, Merzļikins was voted NL Media Most Improved Player and NL Youngster of the Year.
In the 2015–16 season, Merzļikins enjoyed a breakout year, leading the league in saves with 1,484 while ranking second in save percentage and fifth in wins with a 23–13–4 record in 44 contests. He led HC Lugano to the National League final in the 2016 playoffs, posting a .937 save percentage and 2.32 goals against average in 15 playoff games. His standout season earned him the Jacques Plante Trophy as the league’s best goaltender. He agreed to a three-year contract extension with Lugano on 22 June 2016 and was named to the Spengler Cup all-star team that same year.
Columbus Blue Jackets Breakthrough (2019–Present)
After his tenure with HC Lugano concluded, Merzļikins left Switzerland and agreed to join the Columbus Blue Jackets immediately, signing a one-year, entry-level contract on 20 March 2019. He arrived and worked with the team during their run in the 2019 NHL playoffs.
His NHL debut came on 5 October 2019 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After being assigned to the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets’ American Hockey League affiliate, he returned to Columbus later that season. Due to an injury to Joonas Korpisalo on 30 December 2019, Merzļikins started the 31 December game and earned his first NHL win against the Florida Panthers, allowing one goal on 37 shots in a 4–1 victory. He recorded his first career NHL shutout on 11 January 2020 in a 3–0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. He finished the 2019–20 season playing 33 games with 13 wins, 9 losses, and 8 overtime losses with 5 shutouts, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.
On 23 April 2020, the Blue Jackets signed Merzļikins to a two-year contract extension. During the COVID-19-shortened 2020–21 season, Merzļikins posted a 2.77 goals against average and a .916 save percentage, though the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs. On 21 September 2021, he signed a five-year, $27 million contract extension with Columbus.
Recent Seasons and Personal Challenges
During the 2021–22 season, Merzļikins struggled statistically with a goals against average of 3.22 and a save percentage of .907, though he won more games than he lost. The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs that year. In April 2022, Merzļikins revealed that the cannon blasts used during Columbus home games triggered anxiety because they reminded him of the fireworks accident that killed fellow goaltender Matīss Kivlenieks.
The 2022–23 season saw Merzļikins miss significant time with various injuries, playing only 30 games. His statistics continued to decline with a goals against average of 3.57 and a save percentage of .876. During the following offseason, the Blue Jackets replaced their goalie coach and brought in Niklas Bäckström to help Merzļikins return to his earlier form.
International Career
Merzļikins has represented Latvia at both the junior and senior international levels. He participated in the 2012 and 2013 World Junior Championships as a member of the Latvia junior team. At the senior level, he was selected to the Latvia team for the 2016 World Championship, making his debut in the opening game against Sweden in a 2–1 overtime loss. He also played in the 2017 and 2018 World Championships, posting impressive numbers in the 2018 tournament with a 1.50 goals against average and .940 save percentage in six contests.
Elvis Merzļikins Career Highlights
Merzļikins has accumulated notable achievements throughout his professional career in both Switzerland and the NHL. His success in the National League laid the foundation for his professional career before his transition to North American hockey.
National League Success
During his time with HC Lugano, Merzļikins established himself as one of the top goaltenders in the National League. He won the Jacques Plante Trophy twice, in 2016 and 2018, recognizing him as the league’s best goaltender. In the 2018–19 season, his final year with Lugano, he posted a 22–18–0 record with a 2.44 goals against average, .921 save percentage, and a career-high five shutouts in 43 games.
NHL Career
Since joining the NHL, Merzļikins has appeared in over 70 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets. His rookie season in 2019–20 was his most successful at the NHL level, as he earned All-Rookie Team honors. He has recorded multiple shutouts and established himself as a key member of the Blue Jackets’ goaltending tandem.
Elvis Merzļikins Family
Family Background
Elvis Merzļikins was named after the legendary Elvis Presley, as his father was a fan of the American musician. He was born and raised in Riga, Latvia. Merzļikins is multilingual, speaking Latvian, English, Russian, and Italian.
Personal Life
Merzļikins and his wife have two sons. Their first son, born in August 2021, is named after former teammate and countryman Matīss Kivlenieks, who died in a fireworks accident on 4 July 2021. Kivlenieks saved the lives of Merzļikins and his wife at the time of the incident. Their second son, born in March 2025, is named after late teammate Johnny Gaudreau, who along with his brother Matthew Gaudreau was killed by a drunk driver while riding bicycles in August 2024.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season marked another chapter in Merzļikins’ career with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He continued to serve as one of the team’s primary goaltenders, working to rebuild his statistical performance following challenging seasons. The Blue Jackets remained committed to supporting Merzļikins as he worked with new goalie coach Niklas Bäckström to refine his game and return to the form that earned him recognition in Switzerland and his rookie NHL season.
Merzļikins brought a wealth of international experience to the Blue Jackets lineup, having represented Latvia in multiple World Championships and World Junior tournaments. His leadership in the locker room remained valuable to a young Columbus team looking to develop contenders in the Eastern Conference.
