Elvis Merzļikins

Elvis Merzļikins (Latvian:|ɛlːvis mɛrzˈʎikins); born 13 April 1994) is a Latvian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). 
Merzļikins spent several years playing hockey in Switzerland for HC Lugano, and was awarded the Jacques Plante Trophy as best goaltender in the National League in both 2016 and 2018. Drafted 76th overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Merzļikins moved to North America in 2019 and made his NHL debut that year. 
Internationally Merzļikins has represented Latvia at the junior and senior level at multiple tournaments.
==Playing career==
===Switzerland===
Merzļikins played his junior hockey in Switzerland with HC Lugano, which allowed him to play in the NL with a Swiss player license and not count as an import player.
Throughout the 2012–13 season, Merzļikins spent several games on the bench as the backup goaltender of HC Lugano. Merzļikins would eventually make his NL debut on 28 September 2013 in a 2–1 victory over Lausanne HC.
At the end of the 2013–14 season, Merzļikins was voted off as NL Media Most Improved Player and NL Youngster of the Year. Touted by the scouting services, Merzļikins as a result was selected in the third round, 76th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In the 2015–16 season, Merzļikins enjoyed a breakout year after leading the league in saves (1,484) and ranking second in SV% and fifth in wins with a 23–13–4 record in 44 contests. In the 2016 NLA playoffs, Merzļikins led Lugano to the NL final which they would eventually lose in 5 games to SC Bern. He posted a .937 save % and 2.32 goal average in 15 playoffs games. His standout season was acknowledged by claiming the Jacques Plante Trophy as the League's best goalie.
On 22 June 2016, he agreed to a three-year contract extension with Lugano, without an NHL out-clause. At the 2016 Spengler Cup, he was named to the tournament's all-star team.
In the 2017–18 season, Merzļikins captured his second Jacques Plante Trophy as the league's Goaltender of the Year after finishing fourth in wins and fifth in saver percentage with a 19–15–1 record in 40 contests.
Merzļikins returned for his sixth and last season under contract with HC Lugano in the 2018–19 campaign. He posted a 22–18–0 record with a 2.44 goals against average (GAA), .921 save percentage (SV%) and a career-high five shutouts in 43 games. He was unable to prevent Lugano being swept in the first-round of the playoffs against EV Zug.
===NHL===
At the conclusion of the season with Lugano, Merzļikins left Switzerland and agreed to immediately join the Columbus Blue Jackets for the remainder of their season, signing a one-year, entry-level contract, on 20 March 2019.
His NHL debut came on 5 October 2019 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Merzļikins allowed seven goals in the game, earning the loss. He was sent down to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL on 6 November, later making one appearance with the Monsters before returning to the Blue Jackets. Towards the end of 2019, Merzļikins was not getting many starts, as he had yet to win a game in the NHL. Due to an injury to Joonas Korpisalo on 30 December, Merzļikins started the 31 December game and earned his first NHL win against the Florida Panthers, where he allowed one goal on 37 shots and helped Columbus to a 4–1 victory. On 11 January 2020, Merzļikins recorded his first career NHL shutout in a 3–0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
In 23 April 2020, the Blue Jackets signed Merzļikins to a two-year contract extension.
==International play==
Merzļikins participated in the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a member of the Latvia men's national junior ice hockey team. He was selected to the national team for the 2016 World Championship, and made his debut in the opening game against Sweden in a 2–1 overtime loss. Merzļikins also played in the 2017 World Championship and in the 2018 World Championship. In the 2018 tournament, he posted a 1.50 goals against average and .940 save percentage in six contests.
==Personal life==
Merzļikins was born in Riga, Latvia. Merzlikins was named after Elvis Presley, of whom his father was a fan. 
Merzlikins speaks Latvian, English, Russian and Italian.
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
 	 	 		Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season		Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 		GP 	W 	L 	T/OT 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV% 		GP 	W 	L 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV%
2011–12 	HC Lugano 	Elite. A 		8 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	3.52 	— 		3 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	5.07 	—
2012–13 	HC Lugano 	Elite. A 		30 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	2.76 	— 		4 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	3.84 	—
2013–14 	HC Lugano 	Elite. A 		12 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	2.07 	— 		10 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	1.68 	—
2013–14 	HC Lugano 	NLA 		22 	11 	10 	0 	1269 	45 	1 	2.13 	.925 		1 	0 	1 	80 	1 	0 	0.75 	.976
2014–15 	HC Lugano 	NLA 		21 	11 	7 	1 	1309 	57 	1 	2.61 	.913 		1 	0 	1 	38 	2 	0 	3.33 	.857
2015–16 	HC Lugano 	NLA 		44 	23 	13 	4 	2713 	125 	1 	2.76 	.922 		15 	9 	6 	930 	36 	0 	2.32 	.937
2016–17 	HC Lugano 	NLA 		40 	19 	16 	1 	2408 	116 	3 	2.89 	.916 		11 	5 	6 	654 	25 	0 	2.29 	.933
2017–18 	HC Lugano 	NL 		40 	19 	15 	1 	2431 	110 	4 	2.72 	.921 		18 	11 	7 	1104 	40 	0 	2.17 	.935
2018–19 	HC Lugano 	NL 		43 	22 	18 	0 	2559 	104 	5 	2.44 	.921 		4 	0 	4 	273 	18 	0 	3.95 	.872
2019–20 	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL 		33 	13 	9 	8 	1816 	71 	5 	2.35 	.923 		2 	1 	1 	123 	4 	0 	1.96 	.946
2019–20 	Cleveland Monsters 	AHL 		2 	1 	1 	0 	119 	3 	0 	1.52 	.949 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
NL totals 	NL totals 	NL totals 		210 	105 	79 	7 	12,689 	557 	15 	2.63 	.920 		50 	25 	25 	3,078 	122 	0 	2.38 	.930
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals		33 	13 	9 	8 	1,816 	71 	5 	2.35 	.923 		2 	1 	1 	123 	4 	0 	1.96 	.946
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 	Result 		GP	W 	L 	OT	MIN 	GA	SO	GAA 	SV%
2011 	Latvia 	WJC18-D1 	12th 		2 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	0.50 	.978
2012 	Latvia 	WJC18 	9th 		4 	1 	2 	0 	— 	15	0 	4.88 	.885
2012 	Latvia 	WJC 	9th 		1 	0 	1 	0 	60 	14	0 	14.00	.720
2013 	Latvia 	WJC 	10th 		3 	0 	3 	0 	133 	13	0 	5.85 	.860
2014 	Latvia 	WJC-D1 	13th 		3 	1 	1 	0 	127 	5 	1 	2.36 	.900
2016 	Latvia 	WC 	13th 		5 	1 	2 	2 	268 	13	0 	2.91 	.912
2016 	Latvia 	OGQ 	DNQ 		2 	1 	1 	0 	91 	2 	0 	1.32 	.931
2017 	Latvia 	WC 	10th 		6 	3 	2 	1 	364 	12	1 	1.98 	.934
2018 	Latvia 	WC 	8th 		7 	4 	1 	1 	360 	9 	2 	1.50 	.940
2019 	Latvia 	WC 	10th 		5 	1 	4 	0 	237 	11	0 	2.78 	.914
Senior totals	Senior totals	Senior totals	Senior totals		25	10	10	4 	1320	47	3 	2.13 	.922
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Awards and honours==
Award 	Year 	
NL 	NL 	NL
Youngster of the Year 	2014 	
Jacques Plante Trophy 	2016, 2018 	
International 	International	International
Latvian Player of the Year	2018 	
==References==
==External links==
* 
Category:1994 births
Category:Cleveland Monsters players
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets draft picks
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets players
Category:HC Lugano players
Category:Latvian ice hockey goaltenders