Merzlikins will get his first start of 2022-23 after missing Columbus’ opening two matchups due to illness. The 28-year-old had his worst of his three seasons in 2021-22, posting a .907 SV% alongside his high 3.22 GAA. He will look to bounce back this season as the Blue Jackets take on St. Louis on the road Saturday.
With Elvis Merzlikins out, the Blue Jackets sent Johnson to the AHL to make room to call-up Jet Greaves to serve as the backup in Carolina.
Elvis Merzlikins is sick and will not be available for the Blue Jackets' season opener, so Greaves will serve as Danill Tarasov's backup in Carolina. Greaves was 12-12-2 with a 2.84 GAA and .905 SV% in the AHL last season.
Merzlikins will miss the Blue Jackets' season opener in Carolina with an illness. With Merzlikins out, Danill Tarasov will get the start, and Jet Greaves was recalled to be the backup.
Aston-Reese was on a PTO during the preseason and turned it into a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs. Aston-Reese is a strong two-way winger, who had 15 points (5G / 10A) in 69 games last season. He'll be in the Maple Leafs' bottom-6 to begin the season.
Gaudreau spent the first nine years of his NHL career with the Flames and is coming off of the best season of his career. He set career-higher in goals (40), assists (75) and points (115) in 82 games. Gaudreau played almost exclusively with Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk, which was one of the best lines in the NHL. In Columbus, he won't have the same quality of linemates, so replicating his 115-point season is going to be next to impossible. Still, he should elevate the games of someone like Patrik Laine and should have no trouble getting to 30-plus goals and 50-plus assists.
Olivier was a key member of the Predators in 2021 but fell behind the eight-ball with an injury in 2022, spending most of the year in the AHL. The rugged winger has seven points (3G / 4A) and 102 hits in 48 career NHL games. He'll likely be a fringe roster player for the Blue Jackets in 2022-23.
Werenski returned to the lineup in Tampa on Tuesday but will miss the final two games of the regular season after breaking his nose. Werenski finishes the 2022 season with 11 goals and 37 assists (48 points) in 68 games.
Olivier has scored five goals with six assists (11 points) in 46 games with the Admirals this season. He's only appeared in eight NHL games this season, scoring one goal with 12 PIMS.
Werenski missed the last three games with an upper-body injury but will play Tuesday in Tampa. Werenski has scored five goals with 17 assists (22 points) in his last 25 games.
