Blue Jackets goalie prospect Elvis Merzlikins arrived in Columbus Sunday and met with the team media today at Nationwide Arena. He discussed the origin of his name, the “really loud” cannon at Nationwide Arena, his new Uber driver buddy Robert and more.
On the NHL…
“The hockey is much quicker. I'm not focusing on when I'm going to play. I'm more focusing on getting better.”
On how he has to modify his game for the NHL…
“It's the same hockey. It's just quicker and the playing [surface] is smaller. If sliding is better than skating, then I have to use sliding. I already know how to do it. [In Europe] I had time to [skate] where here I may not. It's not a lot, just some small details.”
On having fun on the ice and if he'll play the same here…
“I'm not a real goalie. Goalies, we know, they are special. They are living in their own world. I'm more of a guy who when I make a huge save, I'm going to pump myself up. Now, when I'm watching a game, I'm liking the songs, so I'm going to dance.”
“I love to challenge players, especially superstars.”
On the cannon in Nationwide Arena…
“I really wanted to hear the cannon and I heard it and it's really loud. I really like it and hope to hear it a lot more.”
On meeting so many new faces in the Blue Jackets organization…
“I said to one guy, ‘Nice to meet you.’ And then he said, yeah, we already met an hour ago.”
On his first impressions of Columbus…
“I went around the whole city. I saw a beautiful park by the river. The weather was really nice. I like the city. I like the people here. I met a driver from Uber, really nice guy. He really helped me. He brought me to the stores when I needed it. I no longer use Uber. I just text him.”
On his new Uber driver friend…
“He explained to me that the Blue Jackets hockey team is the most followed team that everyone is following except the football team from Ohio. I saw [Ohio Stadium] from far away when I went to the Easton mall, so it's really huge and I want to see a game.”
On living in Columbus for the summer…
“I don't know where I'm going to be, but when I talked to my agent, the best thing is to go to L.A. for summer progression. Then, yeah, I'm going to come here for August.”
Did the Uber driver know who you were?
“No. He didn't.”
On his name, Elvis…
“No, the name of Elvis… I lost my father when I was three and Elvis was his favorite singer. My father was Russian and my mother is Latvian, so Elvis sounded really good in Latvian and Russian, but basically my father was a big Elvis Presley fan.”
Are you an Elvis Presley fan because of that?
“I like a couple of songs. I like my name.”
Merzlikins, considered the goaltender of the future in Columbus, signed a one-year entry level deal with the Blue Jackets on March 20.
