Elvis Merzlikins vs. Kaapo Kahkonen: Finding New Jersey a Better Fit In Net
The New Jersey Devils could go after a variety of options on the trade market, but who would be better between Kaapo Kahkonen and Elvis Merzlikins? We weighed in everything from analytics to the eye test plus overall career stats.
The New Jersey Devils might have a leg up when trading with the San Jose Sharks. Current Sharks general manager Mike Greer was most recently an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils. The Devils ended up winning the Timo Meier sweepstakes last season, so maybe another trade between the two teams is on the horizon.
The Sharks need more draft picks to stockpile for the 2024 and 2025 NHL Draft. San Jose already has conditions on the Devils second-round pick that could make it a first this year, but the Sharks might target a deal with the Devils that removes those conditions and gives them the pick. Enter goalie Kaapo Kahkonen.
Since Kaapo Kahkonen is playing in front of a Sharks team that has little to play for, he is doing just fine but could perform better in front of a New Jersey Devils team that needs another solid goalie other than Nico Daws. According to Money Puck, the Finnish netminder's Goals Save Above Expected per 60 is 35th in the NHL, above Carter Hart and just below Igor Shesterkin in that category.
Kahkonen has a lot of upside and could benefit from playing in the Garden State and maybe improve his GSAx playing behind this defense. San Jose originally got Kaapo Kahkonen and a 5th-round pick from Minnesota for defenseman Jake Middleton. So if Tom Fitzgerald is wise, it's safe to say he would be worth a Colorado 5th in 2024 and toss in 2025 7th from Las Vegas via NJ.
A contract extension should be worked out because he will be a UFA this offseason. Don't expect a lot of leverage from San Jose since they are still in a rebuild and the Devils looking to amp up the goalie game. It will be a good conundrum to have to fix the goalie situation with a netminder who has been good at stealing a Draft Lottery Team a few games here and there.
Elvis Merzlikins
Elvis Merzlikins has made it publicly clear he doesn't want to play as a backup, especially on a cellar dweller in the Metropolitan. The Latvian goaltender is a true competitor and wants his respect, dignity, and legacy known to be a truly reliable goaltender. He is a very athletic, Gumby-like goaltender, and at times has anger he takes out on Tom Wilson. The New Jersey Devils need to target him because he's playing above his head in Columbus. However, he could be much higher playing in New Jersey with guys like Kevin Bahl, Simon Nemec, Luke Hughes, and John Marino up front.
The Devils must use the extra picks they got from other teams via trades. The Blue Jackets not only sending Elvis Merzlikins to NJ would be great, but also sending a 2025 pick since Merzlikins is requesting a trade with a massive contract. Some might find the fixed cost as a positive thing. He does have a modified No Trade Clause through the 2026-2027 season. Having him around for a few seasons is less risky and allows the Devils to piece together better trust in the net and provide a spark for the defense to feel more certainty than what Vitek Vanecek does currently.
Despite some of the antics from Elvis Merzlikins being a bit hot at times, he's not as erratic as Nashville goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov, who is unproven. The Riga native of Latvia is a proven goaltender and has the potential to do a lot of wonders in the net. Although in a recent few episodes of Locked On Devils with Pucks & Pitchforks' own Trey Matthews, here yours truly who was a bit skeptical of Elvis' play in the net, but certainly the Latvian netminder has a lot he can do wonders for The Garden State of Hockey in the Red and Black.
Analytically Kaapo Kahkonen is the better darling from GSAx to GAA Better Than Expected while doing just well for a bottom-of-the-barrel team in San Jose. The eye test also shows a calmer goalie with a lot fewer antics. But is his competitive level there?
The contract and overall career numbers from shutouts, wins, save percentage, and Goals Allowed Average the guy that has better overall potential is Elvis Merzlikins. He's a veteran netminder and has a very stable career in Columbus. Despite one year of experience in the playoffs, he had a .946 SV% 1.96 GAA in 2 games, with 66/70 saves, going 1-1 in 123 minutes of playoff exposure.
feed