Elvis Merzüikins (; born 13 April 1994) is a Latvian professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Merzüikins 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, Merzüikins moved to North America in 2019 and made his NHL debut that year.
Internationally Merzüikins has represented Latvia at the junior and senior level in multiple tournaments.
Merzüikins joined HC Lugano in 2009, September which allowed him to play in the National League (NL) with a Swiss player license and not count as an import player. Merzüikins made his NL debut with HC Lugano during the 2012âÂÂ13 season on 28 September 2013 in a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Lausanne HC. At the end of the 2013âÂÂ14 season, Merzüikins was voted off as NL Media Most Improved Player and NL Youngster of the Year. Merzüikins was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the third round, 76th overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
In the 2015âÂÂ16 season, Merzüikins enjoyed a breakout year after leading the league in saves (1,484) and ranking second in save percentage and fifth in wins with a 23âÂÂ13âÂÂ4 record in 44 contests. In the 2016 NLA playoffs, Merzüikins led HC Lugano to the NL final which they would eventually lose in five games to SC Bern. He posted a .937 save percentage and 2.32 goals against 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 2017âÂÂ18 season, Merzüikins 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 19âÂÂ15âÂÂ1 record in 40 contests. Merzüikins returned for his sixth and last season under contract with HC Lugano in the 2018âÂÂ19 campaign. He posted a 22âÂÂ18âÂÂ0 record with a 2.44 goals against average (GAA), .921 save percentage (SV%) and a career-high five shutouts in 43 games.
At the conclusion of the season with HC Lugano, Merzüikins 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. After his arrival he worked with the team during their run in the 2019 NHL playoffs.
His NHL debut came on 5 October 2019 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Merzüikins allowed seven goals in the game, earning the loss. He was sent down to the Blue Jackets American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, on 6 November, later making one appearance with the Monsters before returning to the Blue Jackets. Towards the end of 2019, Merzüikins 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, Merzüikins 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 4âÂÂ1 victory. On 11 January 2020, Merzüikins recorded his first career NHL shutout in a 3âÂÂ0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. He finished the season playing in 33 games with a record of 13 wins, 9 losses and 8 overtime losses with 5 shutouts. The Blue Jackets made the 2020 NHL playoffs and were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. At the end of the season, Merzüikins was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team, the third member of the Blue Jackets to earn the honour.
In the following offseason on 23 April 2020, the Blue Jackets signed Merzüikins to a two-year contract extension. In the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season of 2020âÂÂ21, Merzüikins played well with a 2.77 goals against average and a save percentage of .916, but the Blue Jackets could not score and the team missed the playoffs.
During the offseason, while attending a 4 July 2021 party, an errant firework killed fellow Blue Jackets goalie, and Merzüikins' friend, Matëss Kivlenieks, a party that Merzüikins and his wife were also attending. Merzüikins stated that Kivlenieks had saved the lives of his wife and unborn son at the time. Later that summer, on 21 September 2021, Merzüikins signed a five-year, $27 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets. During the following 2021âÂÂ22 season he struggled; he won more games than he lost, but his individual stats ballooned, with a goals against average of 3.22 save percentage of .907. The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs again.
In 2022âÂÂ23 season, Merzüikins missed time with various injuries playing in only 30 games. His statistics continued to decline, with a goals against average of 3.57 and a save percentage of .876. The Blue Jackets again missed the playoffs, with goaltending now considered an issue for the team. During the following offseason, the Blue Jackets terminated the contract of goalie coach Manny Legace and brought in a new coach, Niklas Bäckström, and tasked the new coach with getting Merzüikins back to the player he was in his first two seasons.
Merzüikins participated in the 2012 and 2013 World Junior Championships as a member of the Latvia junior team. He was selected to the Latvia senior team for the 2016 World Championship, and made his debut in the opening game against Sweden in a 2âÂÂ1 overtime loss. Merzüikins also played in the 2017 and 2018 World Championships. In the 2018 tournament, he posted a 1.50 goals against average and .940 save percentage in six contests.
Merzüikins was born in Riga, Latvia. Merzüikins was named after Elvis Presley, of whom his father was a fan. Merzüikins speaks Latvian, English, Russian and Italian. Merzüikins and his wife have two sons. Their first son, born August 2021, is named after former teammate and countryman Matëss Kivlenieks, who died in a fireworks accident on 4 July 2021, protecting Merzüikins and his family. Their second son, born in March 2025, is named after late teammate Johnny Gaudreau, who, along with his younger brother, Matthew Gaudreau, was killed by a drunk driver while riding their bicycles in August 2024.