Latest news with #Merzlikins
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Adam Fantilli & Kent Johnson Asked About Elvis Merzlikins
One of the interesting things about covering the IIHF World Championships as a journalist is the media presence from the different participating countries. As a nation that is crazy about hockey, Latvia always sends a significant number of journalists to cover the tournament and, like a lot of Latvians, were disappointed when Elvis Merzlikins announced that he wouldn't be representing his country this year. However, that didn't stop them from asking Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli, Merzlikins' Columbus Blue Jackets teammates, about the popular goaltender. Two themes that came out in both of their answers were his personality and his generosity. 'He's a lot of fun to be around,' said 20-year-old Fantilli, who's been a teammates of Merzlikins for two years now. 'He's got a big personality and it's a pleasure to be around him in the locker room.' 'I have a good relationship with Elvis – he's a good dude and a good goalie too,' said 22-year-old Johnson, who has now been a teammate of Merzlikins for more than three seasons. 'He won us a lot of games this year. That was huge and I'm looking forward to the same thing next year.' 'He's been our starter for quite a few years now and he's stolen quite a few games for us,' said Fantilli. 'This year he was phenomenal in shootouts. I don't know exactly what his record was but it was pretty good. When you have him back there, you have a little bit of confidence and you can play a little bit harder offensively.' 'We have a lot of fun away from the rink, the whole team,' said Fantilli. 'The rookie party was a blast, a lot of team dinners are awesome. At the rink, I just love his personality and how much he celebrates shootout wins.' It was mentioned how Merzlikins sometimes buys dinners after the Latvian national team comes up with a big win, and Fantilli confirmed he also does that sometimes in Columbus. No Merzlikins, Silovs, Or Any NHLers For Latvia, But Daugavins Returns The Latvian national team will not have Elvis Merzļikins or Artūrs Šilovs in goal at this year's IIHF World Championship – the Columbus Blue Jackets goalie cited family reasons last month and the Vancouver Canucks prospect is still involved in the AHL playoffs. But the small nation of less than two million seems to have no trouble producing goalies and Latvia will give the net to 32-year-old Kristers Gudlevskis, the two-time top goalie of Germany's DEL. 'Sometimes he throws a team dinner up on the board and if we win,' he said. 'I know he did it this year in Toronto (pictured) and he's done it in past years too.' Both players were disappointed but understanding when they heard Merzlikins wouldn't be going to Stockholm. 'I was hoping when we'd play Latvia that he'd be in the net. It would be fun to score on him and make some jokes about it after,' Johnson laughed. 'But no, I hope he's enjoying his time off and he'll be ready for camp.' 'Just before I left Columbus, he told me he wasn't going to be playing,' said Fantilli. 'I knew Canada and Latvia were in the same group so it would've been fun to play against him, but I knew he'd just had a baby, so family comes first.' Predicting Latvia's 2026 Olympic roster When they beat France 5-2 on home ice on Sunday, the Latvians qualified for the men's ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics for the fifth time out of the last six possibilities. Only once, in 2014 in Sochi, did Latvia reach the quarterfinals.
New York Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Blue Jackets offseason primer: 15 storylines to watch as GM Don Waddell pushes forward
COLUMBUS, Ohio — It's amazing how quickly the world can change at the end of an NHL season. A week ago, the Columbus Blue Jackets were making a jet-fueled finish to the season, hoping to catch the Montreal Canadiens and earn a playoff spot. Now, after watching the Canadiens hold them off on the season's penultimate day, the Blue Jackets are fully into offseason mode. Advertisement For the players, that means allowing their bodies and brains to recover after what was an exhausting season both emotionally and physically. For management and coaches, that means evaluating areas where they can improve and setting a strategy for what figures to be a fascinating offseason. The Blue Jackets were the last NHL club eliminated from the playoff race, and their 23-point improvement from last season is the second-largest single-season improvement in franchise history. The sense, however, is that general manager Don Waddell is not content with slow growth. Here are 15 storylines we will be monitoring this offseason: This seems to be at the top of everybody's list, so let's get after it. With the numbers he put up this season — once again among the worst in the league in save percentage and goals-against average — and with the late-season, on-ice temper tantrums, it's hard to imagine the Blue Jackets bringing back Elvis Merzlikins. But Waddell has mentioned that the 'status quo' is a possibility. The issue? Merzlikins has two years remaining on a contract that pays him $5.4 million per season. Is there a trade market? Likely not for a 'hockey' trade, but if Waddell is willing to retain a portion of his salary or attach a sweetener (draft pick, prospect, etc.) maybe it could happen. Maybe. Contract buyouts are painful, but it might be the club's only out here. Per Puckpedia, it would cost the Blue Jackets $1.5 million in 2025-26, $2.8 million in 2026-27 and $1.63 million in 2027-28, and 2028-29. The NHL buyout window is open from June 15 (or 48 hours after the Stanley Cup is awarded) through June 30, the final day of the league year. You might look at his contract — he has a one-way NHL deal for next season — and conclude that Jet Greaves most definitely will be in Columbus. If you look at the way he played in the NHL this season, especially the final two weeks, it seems like a no-brainer. Advertisement Greaves went 7-2-2 with a .938 save percentage and 1.91 goals-against average in 11 starts, including his five-game burner at the end of the season that nearly pushed the Blue Jackets into the playoffs. Yeah, he's an NHL goalie. The only question here is if he's a classic backup (20 to 30 starts) or if he's in a tandem with a goaltender who arrives via trade or free agency. Daniil Tarasov's season was a mystery. He did himself no favors, it seems, by declining a rehab assignment with AHL Cleveland in December. After that, he was never given a chance to run with the starter's job, even during stretches when Merzlikins struggled. The question now is whether or not Tarasov, a restricted free agent, is tendered a qualifying offer. Those are due 48 hours after the draft. If he doesn't get a qualifying offer, he's an unrestricted free agent. Ivan Provorov wants to stay in Columbus. The Blue Jackets would like to keep him. So what's the problem? At 28 years old, Provorov has reached the point at which top-four defensemen typically sign seven- or eight-year contracts with significant money attached. That's what Provorov was looking for earlier this season, which the Blue Jackets seem to understand. The Blue Jackets are reluctant to go that far into the future with yet another defenseman, which Provorov seems to understand. This could just be a case of two sides amicably divorcing. Provorov's younger brother, Vladimir, has committed to Ohio State beginning in 2027. That's an emotional pull, Provorov admitted, so stay tuned. The hope was that Damon Severson would rebound from a tough first season in Columbus, but his second season was more of the same, and maybe worse. He was a healthy scratch 12 times, including the final nine games of the season, which is quite a commentary for a player making $6.25 million per season. Advertisement The issue: Severson has six years (gulp!) remaining on his contract, so forget about a buyout. That would stretch 12 years into the future. The Blue Jackets have to get Severson back up to speed. He has to realize what the Blue Jackets need from him — a no-frills, low-risk puck-mover — and stop trying to produce offensively at a rate that justifies his contract. The only other option is to trade a major asset along with Severson to a club willing to take his salary. Man, I miss the Coyotes. The Blue Jackets' front office will need to get a grip on what the trade and free-agent markets will look like this summer before deciding what to do with Dante Fabbro and others. They'd like to keep the 26-year-old, though, because he seemed to fit quite well on the top pair next to Mr. Everything, Zach Werenski. Fabbro is a right-shot, he can move the puck and while not particularly large, he does not back down from conflict. Waddell claiming him off waivers early this season was a big part of the Blue Jackets' success. Even if he's not seen as a long-term fixture next to Werenski, he would seem to be a player worth keeping. Johnson, 38, played 41 games this season in his second stint with the Blue Jackets. He's played in 1,228 games, the sixth-most in NHL history among U.S.-born defensemen. If he decides to retire, it's been one heck of a career, including a Stanley Cup win in 2022 with Colorado. No word yet on what Johnson is thinking. Either way, it seems unlikely he would return to the Blue Jackets … as a player, anyway. Sean Kuraly is the fourth homegrown player to play for the Blue Jackets, but it's fair to wonder if he'll continue to play where he lives. Kuraly is set to be a UFA, and so far there's been no indication from the club whether he's in their plans for next season and beyond. Advertisement The Jackets are as deep at center as they've ever been, but it would be hard to replace Kuraly's faceoff wins, penalty-killing and competitive spirit in the middle of the fourth line. Waddell and staff are likely predicting if cheaper fourth-line options — Kuraly was making $2.5 million per season — will be available. Zach Aston-Reese and his agent were wise to be proactive. Aston-Reese signed a one-year extension through the next season, securing his spot in the bottom six. James van Riemdsyk and Justin Danforth (and Kuraly) are all pending UFAs, and there will only be so many chairs when the music stops playing this summer. Van Riemsdyk had 16 goals and has said he wants to stay. Danforth is a jack of all trades who has long expressed his desire to stay here. What will the bottom six look like a week or so into July? Anybody's guess for now. Yegor Chinakhov is the only one of the Blue Jackets' young forwards who didn't bloom this season. Instead, he once again missed considerable time with a nagging back injury, wiping out his hot start to the season and rendering him rusty when he returned late in the season. If we learned anything last summer, it's that Waddell has little patience for players who are chronically injured. Jake Bean, Nick Blankenburg, Adam Boqvist, Alexandre Texier and others were sent packing, leading many to wonder if Chinakhov would be part of a trade package this offseason. It's not exactly a bumper crop of talent, but there are always immediate fixes available. Waddell has said that he and his staff have spent considerable time and energy in recent days looking forward to the market of players who will be available on July 1. Keep in mind, Waddell now has a team on the rise with a staggering amount of salary-cap space available to lure players this summer. If Mitch Marner doesn't extend with Toronto… The biggest push likely would be on defense (especially if Provorov is allowed to walk) and at goaltender, if the Jackets do clear out that room with the exception of Greaves. Advertisement We must first establish whether there is a willingness and, yes, we know Waddell will go there. He's done it before with the Carolina Hurricanes, and when asked last week if he'd consider the same with his new organization, he dropped the ol' 'tool in the toolbox' line. But it's also important to remember that in order to sign a player to an offer sheet, you must have the draft-pick compensation set out by the NHL's CBA. There are different levels of compensation based on the cap hit of contract offer, but many of them include a second-round pick. The Blue Jackets don't have a 2026 second-round pick. It was sent to Montreal with Patrik Laine in the trade last summer that brought Jordan Harris to Columbus. They could still sign a player to an offer sheet. But unless they reacquire that second-round pick from the Canadiens, there are some offers that won't be available. Here is last year's compensation table: Here is the 2024 compensation for an offer sheet signed by any of this year's RFA's: $1,511,701 AAV or less – No compensation$1,5111,701 to $2,290,457 – 3rd round pick$2,290,457 to $4,580,917 – 2nd round pick$4,580,917 to $6,871,374 – 1st and 3rd round picks$6,871,374 to… — CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 4, 2024 The Blue Jackets have two first-round draft picks, their own and the one they acquired in the trade that sent defenseman David Jiricek to the Minnesota Wild. As of now, those picks are No. 13 and No. 20. Safe bet: the Blue Jackets will not be selecting two players in the first round. Not only are those picks available, they're on Facebook Marketplace. One gets the feeling that Waddell wants to trade one (or both) of them to add an immediate infusion of NHL talent. Waddell has raved about the Blue Jackets' dressing-room culture, how the organization's foundation — young and old — blended this season. He would like to keep much of it together. Advertisement As of July 1, captain Boone Jenner will be in the final year of his contract and thus able to sign an extension. In doing so, Waddell could ensure that Jenner, who turns 32 in June, will spend his entire career in Columbus. Other 'foundational' players who could sign extensions when the new league year begins on July 1: Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger. Negotiations with restricted free agents often create summer headlines for the Blue Jackets. To be fair, that can be a tricky business. The player doesn't have much leverage other than an offer sheet, and those are still rare in the NHL. The Blue Jackets have one big RFA, one moderate RFA and one curious RFA. The big one (literally) is Dmitri Voronkov, who had 23-24-47 and 55 penalty minutes in 72 games this season. He spent most of the season on the No. 1 line, bringing size and presence. You'd like to see him be a bit nastier, but that may come. Getting Jordan Harris signed to a new deal shouldn't be difficult, because he doesn't have much leverage. He played only 33 games this season, saving his best play for the final two weeks of the season. And, as noted above, Tarasov could go either way. It doesn't feel like a qualifying offer is forthcoming, but we shall see. (Photo of Elvis Merzlikins: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
New York Times
11-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Jet Greaves powers Blue Jackets in must-win over Sabres: What took so long?
COLUMBUS, Ohio — One question has lingered over the Columbus Blue Jackets for a few weeks now. The Blue Jackets' goaltending — between starter Elvis Merzlikins and backup Daniil Tarasov — has been a weak spot on the roster all season, and it's been especially turbulent and underwhelming in recent weeks as the Jackets have faded in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Advertisement All the while Jet Greaves, who has never seemed out of place in NHL spot starts over the past three seasons, has been dominating the AHL up in Cleveland, putting up a .949 save percentage since Feb. 15 to almost single-handedly keep the Monsters in the playoff picture. The question: Why didn't Greaves get to Columbus sooner? Greaves made 33 of his 41 saves in the final two periods, holding off the Buffalo Sabres long enough for the Blue Jackets to score three unanswered goals — including two in a three-minute span early in the third — to win 3-2 before 16,406 in Nationwide Arena. The question, for now, does not have a clear answer. After Thursday's game, Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason was asked why the organization was reluctant to call up Greaves before this point in the season, when the Blue Jackets are on the brink of being mathematically eliminated from the postseason. 'That's a Don Waddell question,' Evason said, curiously. HOW DO YA DO CAPTAIN!? 🚨@FanaticsBook | #CBJ — Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 11, 2025 James van Riemsdyk, Zach Aston-Reese and Boone Jenner each scored for the Blue Jackets, but it was Jenner's power-play goal — scored off his own rebound while getting pummeled to the ice at 6:42 of the third — that put Columbus in the lead for the first time. It's a game the Blue Jackets absolutely had to have. If they'd lost in regulation, they would have been eliminated from the playoffs with four games remaining in the season. It could still happen Friday if the Montreal Canadiens win in regulation in Ottawa. All the Blue Jackets can control now is what's in front of them, but even that took some unpredictable turns on Thursday morning. Merzlikins, who was scheduled to be the starter on Thursday, took part in a morning skate and was the first goaltender off the ice, perhaps leaving early with an injury. The Blue Jackets announced later in the morning that Merzlikins was in fact injured and Greaves was on his way down from Cleveland. Advertisement Greaves, by the way, had played for Cleveland on Wednesday, making 19 saves in a 4-3 win over Grand Rapids. He didn't seem to mind the late change of plans. 'I'm happy any time I get a chance to play,' Greaves said. '(I got the call this morning) and I got here as soon as I could. It's all part of it. Once you're in the game, you settle in and it's about competing and trying to win hockey games. It was fun to be out there and the guys did a great job the whole night.' Waffleboarded away! 🧇 — Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 11, 2025 Greaves made two strong stops late in the second period to keep the Sabres' lead at 2-1. The highlight was a stop on Buffalo's JJ Peterka, who was denied on a breakaway with 1:25 remaining. 'Very impressive,' Jenner said. 'He plays last night, drives today, comes in here … that's not easy, playing back-to-back games in two different cities and two different leagues. 'We know (Jet) extremely well. He works extremely hard every day. He's a great teammate. I was happy to see him in there and get rewarded with that effort.' Evason said he did not know how long Merzlikins would be sidelined. Greaves, after the game, was asked if the Blue Jackets had told him how long he'd stay in Columbus. 'I'm day-to-day,' Greaves said, with a smile. It will be fascinating to see where this goes. Merzlikins has been celebrated by Evason all season for being a 'great teammate,' and he's even gone so far as to say he's been a leader in the dressing room. But it's been a struggle for Merzlikins lately, not just in his play but in controlling his temper. The numbers aren't good: he has an .865 save percentage and 4.24 goals-against average in his last eight outings, seven of them starts. But the numbers aren't the only issue. Advertisement Last Thursday, he was pulled from a start for the first time this season after smashing his stick on the goal and then on the ice after giving up a soft goal. One night later, according to FanDuel Sports Network's Jody Shelley, Merzlikins apologized to teammates and coaches during a team dinner in Toronto. But then, on Saturday against the Maple Leafs, Merzlikins began shouting at Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson during the run of play in the third period of a 5-0 loss to Toronto. The shouting match carried over near the Blue Jackets' bench during a TV timeout later in the period. On Sunday, when the Blue Jackets played in Ottawa, Tarasov was pulled after allowing two goals in the first 4:26 of the game. Merzlikins came on and played well, but the Blue Jackets lost 4-0. Merzlikins started against Ottawa on Tuesday and played fairly well. Waddell, in a text exchange with the Blue Jackets earlier in the day, confirmed that Merzlikins was injured. It's a small sample size, sure. But Greaves' numbers this season — he's 3-2-2 despite a .914 save percentage and 2.71 goals against — are dramatically better than Merzlikins' (.892/3.18) and Tarasov's (.881/3.54). 'Every time he's come up here and played, he's really made a strong showing for himself,' van Riemsdyk said. 'He's been really steady back there for us. It was impressive. We hung him out to dry in the first, but he shut the door and kept us in it with a lot of big saves as the game went along.'
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Elvis Merzlikins out for Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres, Jet Greaves recalled
Elvis Merzlikins will miss the Blue Jackets' game Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres with an undisclosed injury. Rookie goalie Jet Greaves, who played Wednesday night for the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, was added to the roster with an emergency recall on Thursday afternoon. Merzlikins began the Jackets' morning skate at Nationwide Arena, but left the ice earlier than normal. It's unknown whether his injury occurred at the skate or is something that has lingered for a while. Advertisement More on the Blue Jackets: Columbus Blue Jackets takeaways after Ottawa Senators' shutout: 'We will fight to the end' Merzlikins played in the Blue Jackets' 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena but didn't participate in the team's optional practice Wednesday. Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) saves a shot during the second period of the NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 8, 2025. Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason didn't reveal which goalie he'll start against the Sabres, who are making their second-and-final visit to Nationwide Arena this season. Columbus is eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with five games remaining. Advertisement The Jackets are also tied in points with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings, who all need the Canadiens to stumble in at least three of their remaining four games. Daniil Tarasov, Merzlikins' main backup, started Sunday in Ottawa and was quickly replaced by Merzlikins after allowing two goals on the first six shots he faced. Greaves is 2-2-2 with 2.83 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in six starts this season for the Blue Jackets. Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@ and @ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Elvis Merzlikins out for Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres
New York Times
06-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Goaltending overhaul is a must-do this summer
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A collection of notes, insights, ruminations and did-you-knows gathered throughout the week that was for the Columbus Blue Jackets: Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell has major work ahead of him this summer. The defense needs a makeover, especially if veteran Ivan Provorov departs as a free agent. The goaltending needs an overhaul, but that might be easier wished for than executed. Advertisement Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has played better than he did last season, and he was better last season than he was in 2022-23. But better does not mean good enough, and it's fair to say that Merzlikins has not been anywhere close to good enough again this season. Among the 47 goaltenders who have appeared in more than 25 NHL games, Merzlikins is ranked 42nd with an .890 save percentage and 44th with a 3.24 goals-against average. A deeper dive analytically shows, according to MoneyPuck, that Merzlikins has been the fourth-worst goaltender in the league in goals-above expected, a figure that measures how many goals a goaltender has actually prevented vs. how many they'd be expected to prevent based on the quality of shots they've faced. Yes, it's a subjective figure, but it's consistently subjective from player to player. And Merzlikins' minus-10.6 goals is ahead of only Detroit's Petr Mrazek (minus-14.0), San Jose's Alexandar Georgiev (minus-19.1), and Philadelphia's Samuel Ersson (minus-21.3). Teed up for perfection from Drury to Kelly 🤌#GoAvsGo — x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 4, 2025 By all accounts, Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason has done a masterful job steering the Blue Jackets this season, such that he'll likely get votes for the Jack Adams Award. But one of the enduring mysteries is how much faith he's put in Merzlikins, and, perhaps more, how little faith he's shown in backup Danill Tarasov and AHL Cleveland's Jet Greaves, who, in spot duty, has performed better than Merzlikins or Tarasov this season. It was particularly surprising to see Merzlikins back in the net on Saturday after he was pulled following a stick-bashing tirade in the third period of an ugly loss to Colorado on Thursday. Evason has made it clear that he despises those outward shows of anger. Advertisement When asked if Merzlikins was pulled for the seven goals he allowed or the stick he destroyed, Evason paused and said. 'A little of both.' So what can be done? It's probably too late to salvage this season — the Blue Jackets were six points out of a playoff spot with seven games to play heading into Sunday's matchup with Ottawa — but just imagine how much better the Blue Jackets would be if they had reliable goaltending. When Waddell took the job last spring, he was blunt in his assessment, saying that Merzlikins — because of his massive contract and massive struggles on the ice — was virtually untradeable, and the three years remaining on his contract (at $5.4 million per season) was too long to be bought out without far-reaching financial consequences. Has any of this changed one year later? It's still highly doubtful that Merzlikins is tradeable. But a buyout now would extend four seasons into the future, not six, as it would have if they bought out his contract last summer. According to PuckPedia, it would cost the Blue Jackets $1.5 million against the cap next season, $2.8 million in 2026-27 and $1.63 million the following two years. That's not an unwieldy amount. The other issue: who would replace Merzlikins as the starter? Waddell and Evason clearly aren't impressed with Tarasov, who has made only 13 starts (none of them successive) since Oct. 27. He's actually played pretty well over his last six outings (five starts), putting up a .914 save percentage and 2.50 goals-against average since Jan. 30. Greaves has played well in almost every opportunity at the NHL, and he's been hot in the AHL lately. Over his last 11 starts, dating to Feb. 15, he has a .954 save percentage for AHL Cleveland, but he's been recalled for only one start in that span. Per the two-year contract signed by Greaves last summer, he has a one-way NHL deal for next season, meaning he'll make his NHL salary ($812,500) no matter if he plays in Columbus or Cleveland. After four seasons in the AHL, if Greaves isn't NHL-ready — he has sure looked it — he may never be. Advertisement One challenge Waddell will face is a thin free-agent market for goaltenders this summer. Among the top names available, assuming they don't sign contract extensions first, are New Jersey's Jake Allen, Calgary's Dan Vladar, Vegas' Ilya Samsonov and Carolina's Freddie Anderson. On July 12, 2023, Kenny McCudden resigned as a Blue Jackets assistant coach less than two weeks after the club announced the controversial hiring of Mike Babcock. For many, McCudden's abrupt departure served as a harbinger of the blowup to come with Babcock. McCudden had been with the Blue Jackets for eight seasons. It didn't take long for other NHL clubs to step forward with offers. 'One of the biggest reasons I chose Washington was to be a part of history, and to be able to possibly see this happen,' McCudden told The Athletic. 'And here we are.' McCudden has had a front-row seat to hockey history, as Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin sat tied with Wayne Gretzky for the NHL goal-scoring record (894) heading into Sunday, when the Capitals played at the New York Islanders. OVECHKIN AGAIN! GOAL 894!!! 😱 HE'S TIED THE ALL-TIME GOALS RECORD! #Gr8Chase 🇺🇸: @NHLNetwork🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ — NHL (@NHL) April 5, 2025 Nobody would appreciate the view more, either. McCudden is, quite obviously, a student of the game, but he's also passionate about hockey history, with a collection of antique skates and enough memorabilia to fill a wing of a museum. This is McCudden's second season with the Capitals, and he and Ovechkin grew closer this season when Ovechkin was working his way back from a broken fibula. McCudden, the Caps' skills coach, took the ice with him most mornings as he was nearing a return. Advertisement 'To be part of those skates, and to be feeding him pucks while he's working to get back and working on his shot … I felt like I was throwing batting practice to Hank Aaron,' McCudden said. 'For a guy of his talent level and his accomplishments, he's incredibly receptive to coaching. He tells me what he wants to work on, and then I draw up the drills for him — the ones I think will get him ready — and he says, 'No problem, my man.'' McCudden said Ovechkin was one of the Washington players, along with T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, and others, who made him feel welcomed in Washington D.C. 'They were terrific with me, starting with Ovie,' McCudden said. 'He's all ears. He trusts you. He's a player who really relies on the medical staff and the coaching staff to get him through the day and prepared to play.' McCudden said he'll often pull up near Ovechkin during practice an marvel at his shot while he's blasting one-timers — scores of them daily — at the end of every practice. The only player he's coached with such a powerful shot, he said, was Patrik Laine when they were together in Columbus. 'He's a bull of an athlete,' McCudden said. 'When you see his back, his legs … he's a bull. He's one of a kind, really. We're all seeing the goals, and they're amazing. But the complete picture of his game … I don't think we've seen the likes of No. 8 before, and we won't after, either.' Last week, as Ovechkin was drawing nearer to Gretzky's record, he asked McCudden to go on the ice with him before the scheduled Capitals' practice to get some more 'touches.' Think of that: a player nearing 900 career goals doing early, extra work. McCudden arranged for other young players to join so they could run more elaborate drills that simulated traffic and obstacles. He's now scored in four straight games, including a two-goal performance vs. the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday that pulled Ovechkin into a tie with Gretzky. Advertisement 'I was talking to one of our younger players (Ethen Frank) during that practice, and I said, 'Ethen, do we have stories to tell when our days are over?'' McCudden said. 'And Ethen said, 'Kenny, I know. I'll never forget this.' 'Some day, when I'm 85 yeas old, I'll be having a beer and a shot on a rail somewhere and I'll be able to tell an Ovi story or two, right? Something like this, it just doesn't come around for too many coaches. I'm aware and appreciative of that.' Take 5 is a quick, breezy sitdown with a Blue Jackets player, coach or front-office staffer. This week's features assistant general manager and salary cap expert Josh Flynn. You're a foodie. Favorite spots in Columbus? I've got a few for you. Our fancy, special occasion spot is Veritas. Love the creativity of the tasting menu. We maybe go there three times a year. Our more regular nice place is Cento in German Village. When we sneak away without the baby we'll go to Hyde Park (in Upper Arlington) and share a steak at the bar. Very cozy vibe. Our favorite lunch/brunch place is Northstar Cafe. In what part of town did you settle? Upper Arlington. We've been there since 2017. I used to live right by the rink when I was single. Upper Arlington is a great location. It's like 10 minutes from the rink and downtown, 10 minutes, maybe, to (the Ohio State University's) campus, 10 minutes from Dublin. Plus it's got a nice character feel to it. All of the houses are different, the old trees… Favorite road city? They're all Canadian. Vancouver is No. 1. Montreal is great, Toronto is great. I love Toronto because it's home. I've never missed a Toronto-Columbus game in the 17 years since I've been here. It's always great getting back there. It's really no different for us (management) than it is for the players. The players always have a little more juice in Toronto, and those of us off the ice love it, too. All of our family and friends are watching, so that's great. Toronto's No. 1 with an asterisk because it's home. Vancouver is No. 1 otherwise. Besides the NHL, what's your favorite spot? Probably the NFL. It's usually on during our off days. It's a short season, with lots of games where the stakes are high. Plus, you don't have to make a big investment time wise. I love baseball. I love the Blue Jackets. But it's 162 games a year. I can find time to watch 17 Miami Dolphins games a year. Advertisement Best concert you've attended? There's some recency bias with this one. I went to the Soulshine benefit concert in New York (Madison Square Garden) last November. It was Dave Matthews Band, which is probably my all-time favorite. I've seen them over 100 times. Goose, which is one of my favorite new bands, was there, along with Warren Haynes, Trey Anastasio, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Robert Randolph … all these great musicians on one stage, and they played a four-hour concert. Dave Matthews at Red Rocks (in Morrison, Colo., outside Denver) a long time ago was incredible. They played four nights when I was in Denver for law school. I saw all four nights. One more, an honorable mention: Taylor Swift, the Eras Tour. • Merzlikins and veteran defenseman Erik Gudbranson could be seen barking at each other during play early in the third period on Saturday. It started between the time Toronto's William Nylander scored to make it 3-0 (at 1:11 of the period) and when he scored again to make it 4-0 (at 4:21), and it spilled over to the bench area during a TV timeout a few minutes later. That's what Evason was likely referring to when he said the Blue Jackets started 'finger-pointing' during the loss. Gudbranson was asked post-game by reporters in Toronto about the challenge of staying united, even as the season slips away. 'We're the same team from when it was going well and the same team now,' Gudbranson said. 'It's a great group of guys and a lot of character in this room. We're working toward a goal and sometimes you have disagreements, but we all love each other in here.' • Can you figure out this Blue Jackets team? Can anybody? The Blue Jackets have scored six or more goals in 14 games this season, not only the most in franchise history but tops in the entire NHL this season. (Washington has done it 13 times.) This same Blue Jackets club has also been shutout eight times, tied for second-most in the league. (Nashville has been blanked 10 times.) • Heading into Sunday's game in Ottawa, the Blue Jackets had allowed 10 unanswered goals — the final five in Thursday's 7-3 loss to Colorado and then five more in Saturday's 5-0 loss in Toronto. It matches a season high for consecutive goals allowed — the Jackets also allowed 10 straight from March 13-17 — and it's closer to a franchise mark than you might expect. According to the NHL, the Blue Jackets once allowed 14 unanswered goals from Feb. 18-23, 2003. • Kirill Marchenko's hat trick last Tuesday vs. Nashville gave him 75 career goals, tied with Geoff Sanderson for the second-most of any player in his first three seasons with the Blue Jackets. Only Rick Nash (89) scored more. Marchenko, who now has 31 goals this season, has seven more games to add to his total. • Who was the opponent when Ovechkin made his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2005, in what was then called MCI Center? It was the Blue Jackets, who led 1-0 and 2-1 before losing 3-2. Ovechkin scored two goals in his debut. His first was scored against goaltender Pascal Leclaire at 7:21 of the second period. Others on the ice for the Jackets for No. 8's No. 1: forwards Jan Hrdina, Rick Nash and David Vyborny, and defensemen Francois Beauchemin and Luke Richardson. (Also of note: 20-year-old Blue Jackets forward Dan Fritsche matched Ovechkin, on that night anyway, with two goals.) • Ovechkin spoke openly on the morning of his debut about wanting to score on his first NHL shift. Well, he didn't score, but he did stop the game. Only 37 seconds into the game, Ovechkin blasted Blue Jackets defenseman Radoslav Suchy so hard against the end boards in the Jackets' zone that it bent the supports between the seamless glass, requiring the rink crew to fix it. Advertisement • Who was on the bench that night for Washington as a first-year assistant coach? Evason, who, after six years coaching in the Western Hockey League (Kamloops, Vancouver and Calgary) made the leap to the NHL. He spent seven seasons with the Caps, working closely with Ovechkin. 'I was fortunate to be there for the first game that he played (in the NHL),' Evason said. 'For (seven) years, I watched him conduct himself, not only as a hockey player but as a person and a teammate. The entire hockey world is excited about what he's doing. To have an inside look at what he did, it was pretty special.' • Zach Aston-Reese had gone 57 games without a goal before he scored in the second period of Thursday's 7-3 loss to Avs. Aston-Reese was in a scrum of players along the left sideboards, just above the goal line, when he fired a wrister out of the crowd, catching Colorado goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood by surprise. It was Aston-Reese's first goal since he scored vs. Pittsburgh on Nov. 15 and his first since he signed a one-year extension in mid-January. His previous long, a 34-game drought, came in 2021-22 season when the played for the Penguins. • This week's Sunday Gathering trivia question: Blue Jackets rookie Jack Williams was given a few options for a sweater number, and he chose No. 29, becoming the 13th player to wear the number. Only No. 23, currently worn by Sean Monahan, has been issued more times (15). Which is the lowest number — zero is not an option, as the NHL won't allow it to be worn — that has never been worn by a Blue Jackets player in a regular-season game? • Pretty strong pro debut on Friday by defenseman Guillaume Richard, who signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets last week and joined AHL Cleveland. He scored a goal (on his first pro shot on goal) and added an assist in a 7-1 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Richard, a fourth-round pick (No. 101 overall) in 2021, spent four seasons at Providence College, ending with a regional loss to Denver. • The AHL can be quite an adjustment for young players. Gavin Brindley, the Blue Jackets' second-round pick (No. 34 overall) in 2023, endured a 22-game streak without a point before Saturday, when he had a goal and an assist in Cleveland's 3-0 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Brindley, who hadn't registered a point since Jan. 25, has 6-10-16 in 46 games this season. • Forward Roman Ahcan had 20 goals in 146 games during his first three seasons with AHL Cleveland, and his future in the AHL looked murky. He signed a PTO to start the season with the Monsters, which a legitimate shot that he could end up in the ECHL. Instead, Ahcan has had a breakout AHL season with 18 goals in 61 games this season, including his first pro hat trick in Cleveland's win over Wilkes-Barre Scranton on Friday. • Trivia answer: the lowest number that's never been worn in a Blue Jackets' regular season game is 60. It's one of only 12 numbers between 1 and 98 that hasn't been issued. (No. 99, worn by Wayne Gretzky, has been retired by the league.) (Photo of Danill Tarasov: Ben Jackson / Getty Images)
