Elvis Merzļikins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elvis Merzļikins
Merzļikins with HC Lugano in 2014
Born	(1994-04-13) 13 April 1994 (age 31) Riga, Latvia
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team Former teams	Columbus Blue Jackets HC Lugano
National team	Latvia
NHL Draft	76th overall, 2014 Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career	2013–present

Elvis Merzļikins is a professional ice hockey goaltender from Latvia. He plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Elvis spent many years playing hockey in Switzerland for a team called HC Lugano. He was even named the best goaltender in the National League twice! The Columbus Blue Jackets picked him in the 2014 NHL Draft. In 2019, Elvis moved to North America and started playing in the NHL.

He has also played for Latvia's national ice hockey teams. He represented his country in many big tournaments.

Elvis's Hockey Journey

Playing in Switzerland

Elvis Merzļikins joined the HC Lugano team in Switzerland in 2009. This allowed him to play in the top Swiss league as a local player. He made his first big league game debut in 2013.

After the 2013–14 season, Elvis was voted the most improved player. He was also named the best young player of the year. In 2014, the Columbus Blue Jackets chose him in the NHL Draft. He was the 76th player picked overall.

Breakout Seasons in Switzerland

The 2015–16 season was a huge year for Elvis. He made the most saves in the league. He also had the second-best save percentage. He helped HC Lugano reach the league finals. Even though they lost, Elvis played amazingly well. He won the Jacques Plante Trophy for being the best goalie.

In 2016, he signed a new three-year contract with Lugano. He was also named to the All-Star team at the 2016 Spengler Cup. In the 2017–18 season, Elvis won his second Jacques Plante Trophy. He continued to play great for HC Lugano. He finished his time in Switzerland after the 2018–19 season.

Joining the Columbus Blue Jackets

After playing in Switzerland, Elvis came to North America. He joined the Columbus Blue Jackets in March 2019. He even worked with the team during their playoff run that year.

First NHL Games

Elvis played his first NHL game on October 5, 2019. It was against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He later played a few games with the Cleveland Monsters. This is the Blue Jackets' minor league team.

Towards the end of 2019, Elvis got his first NHL win. It was on December 31, 2019, against the Florida Panthers. He only let in one goal! On January 11, 2020, he got his first NHL shutout. This means he didn't let the other team score any goals. He finished that season with 13 wins and 5 shutouts. The Blue Jackets made the playoffs. Elvis was also named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team. This means he was one of the best new players in the league.

Recent Seasons

In April 2020, the Blue Jackets signed Elvis to a new two-year contract. The 2020–21 season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Elvis played well, but his team struggled to score goals. They missed the playoffs that year.

In September 2021, Elvis signed a big five-year contract extension. He had a tough season in 2021–22. His stats were not as good, and the team missed the playoffs again.

In the 2022–23 season, Elvis missed some games due to injuries. His performance continued to be a challenge. The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs once more. After this season, the team brought in a new goalie coach. Their goal was to help Elvis get back to his best.

Playing for Latvia

Elvis has played for Latvia's national teams since he was young. He played in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He also joined the senior national team for the Ice Hockey World Championships.

He played in the World Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In the 2018 tournament, he had excellent stats. He had a very low goals against average and a high save percentage. He continues to represent Latvia in international competitions.

About Elvis's Life

Elvis Merzļikins was born in Riga, Latvia. He was named after the famous singer Elvis Presley. His father was a big fan! Elvis can speak four languages: Latvian, English, Russian, and Italian.

Elvis and his wife have two sons. Their first son, born in August 2021, is named after his former teammate and friend, Matīss Kivlenieks, who passed away in 2021. Elvis said that Matīss helped protect his wife and unborn son. Their second son, born in March 2025, is named after his late teammate Johnny Gaudreau, who passed away in 2024.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Honours