Blue Jackets new GM, Don Waddell, on possibly trading Elvis Merzļikins: “Let’s be honest, nobody is going to trade for that contract.” (2024)

HockeyVirus said:

Well for one there are rumors of having attitude issues and entitlement issues. I've read Jackets fans talking about him being a locker room cancer. Now add in that even if he was a slightly better Samsonov, that player at a 5.4 cap hit is roster crippling for our cap structure.

If the money was being allocated it would be for a sure thing. If a sure thing can't happen this year, they will save cap there and see if Woll is legit and re-evaluate at the TDL if needed. Doing this will let them sign 2 4-7M Dmen depending on what is out there

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From what I've seen of Merzlikins thus far, he's an emotional goaltender and an outspoken one whose played the majority of his career on a team that can't quite seem to get its sh*t together. Sounds like someone who'd thrive in a pressure cooker market like Toronto.

You keep mentioning this 'sure thing' like it's something that exists. Goaltenders are the complete opposite of a sure thing. Because it's a position that's heavily impacted by the quality of the team in front of it.

With Joe Woll, they're not in a position where they need a 1A. That 'sure thing' your talking about is a guy who'd take any future opportunity away from him. What the Leafs should be looking for is another mid range starter with the ability to take the reins should things go awry.

JoVel said:

You're not supposed to say some things even if they're true.

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So you wear a muzzle at Thanksgiving with the in-laws too eh??

Youngguns80 said:

This isn’t an attempt at social rights and wrongs but about the individual. Obviously he was affected by the death of a friend and who wouldn’t, but a number of character flaws have been prevalent forever. There seems to be a disconnect inside the locker room, he is ouchy every other game and airs dirty laundry publicly. Then when he is asked to just do his job he goes ballistic on Tom Wilson in overtime and cost the team a win. He is benched and then pouts and asks for a trade and them says he didn’t.

So this is about being accountable and earning the monies he signed a contract to fulfill. He needs to know you want to leave play well, shut up and be a good teammate. Then you can be traded.

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See Also

Confirmed Signing with Link: - [CBJ] D Corson Ceulemans signs ELC with the Blue Jackets (3 years, $925k AAV; begins 2023-24)

If he is a problem in the locker room, has character flaws, and airs dirty laundry then he should be bought out. The Blue Jackets aren’t going anywhere for a bit and it’s not worth it to have a guy like that around. Taking potshots through the media can only make it an ugly situation. If Waddell is the boss he has to be the bigger man and keep quiet until they figure something out

Henry Miller said:

If he is a problem in the locker room, has character flaws, and airs dirty laundry then he should be bought out. The Blue Jackets aren’t going anywhere for a bit and it’s not worth it to have a guy like that around. Taking potshots through the media can only make it an ugly situation. If Waddell is the boss he has to be the bigger man and keep quiet until they figure something out

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That sentiment cuts both ways. You want DW to act like the bigger man when Elvis has been chucking potshots from the cheap-seats for years. The organization has been taking the high road for years so now its tough love. Every fan from the CBJ thought he was going to get bought out but who knows???

Henry Miller said:

Generally positive reinforcement works better than giving fuel. Calling your son a Pejorative Slur if he’s struggling with homework or your wife fat to get her to lose weight generally isn’t the most effective way for giving fuel and often does more damage

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I disagree with the comparisons.

This is a boss openly discussing an employee's shortcomings, one who can't be fired without a payout unless he mutually agrees to terminate his contract and one who has been quite openly outspoken in criticizing his own team and being relegated to 3rd string because, well, he was sucking.