Goalie Start
Merzlikins was the first goalie off of the ice at the Blue Jackets morning skate.
Columbus Blue Jackets News
The Ducks have reassigned Isac Lundestrom to San Diego (AHL).
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will make his NHL debut on Saturday.
With Joonas Korpisalo starting the season opener vs. Toronto, it sets Merzlikins up for a date with the Pittsburgh Penguins in his NHL debut. The Blue Jackets have high hopes for the 2014 third-round pick, who turned in a .921 SV% in two straight seasons while playing with Lugano of the Swiss-A League. He will have spot-start value this season, but this is a tough spot for him.
Lundestrom has been re-assigned to San Diego (AHL).
The Flyers have re-signed Ivan Provorov to a six-year deal worth $40.5M ($6.75M AAV).
Provorov and the Flyers wrap-up their RFA stalemate with a six-year extension that makes him the highest-paid defenseman on the team (per PuckPedia). After a breakout 2018 campaign, Provorov had a disappointing 26 points (7G / 19A) in 82 games last year. He has not missed a game in three years and is poised to lead the Flyers in ice-time again in 2020.
The Blue Jackets have re-signed Zach Werenski to a three-year contract worth $15 million ($5.0M AAV).
Werenski has been excellent since breaking into the NHL in 2017, scoring double-digit goals in all three seasons and 40-plus points in two out of three. Overall, he is 11th among defensemen in goals (27) and 24th in points (81) over that span.
The Penguins have re-signed Zach Aston-Reese to a two-year contract extension worth $2.0 million ($1.0M AAV).
Aston-Reese spent most of the 2018-19 season with the Penguins, where he had eight goals and nine assists (17 points) in 43 games. The 24-year-old posted ridiculous numbers at Northeastern University and solid AHL numbers but will be limited by his bottom-6 role with the Penguins.
The Coyotes have signed Hudson Fasching to a two-year, two-way contract.
The Bruins have signed Brendan Gaunce to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Blue Jackets signed Elvis Merzlikins to a one-year, one-way contract.
Merzlikins, 25, was selected by the Blue Jackets in the third-round back in 2014 but remained with Lugano in Switzerland, where he had a 2.44 GAA and .921 SV% in 43 games this season. Merzlikins represented Latvia at the World Championship, where he had a 2.78 GAA and .914 SV% in five games.
The Predators signed Mathieu Olivier to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Olivier is an undrafted centre who played five years in the QMJHL, where he had 27 goals and 22 assists (49 points) with Sherbrooke in his final season. Olivier turned pro this year, collecting four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 54 games with Milwaukee (AHL).
Aston-Reese (upper-body) will be a game-time decision for Game 1.
Aston-Reese missed the last 12 games of the regular seasons but skated as an extra in Tuesday’s practice but remains a game-time decision for Game 1. Aston-Reese had eight goals and nine assists (17 points) in 43 games this season.
Monahan (illness) will be a game-time decision on Saturday.
Line Change
Monahan is expected to be scratched on Wednesday.
The Flames have clinched a roster spot and it looks like Monahan will be the latest forward to be rested. Mikael Backlund is expected to replace him in the lineup and Derek Ryan will skate on the first line.
Werenski (undisclosed) will play Thursday vs. the Canadiens.
The Predators have signed Dante Fabbro to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Wood (ankle) will return to the Devils lineup on Saturday afternoon.
Monahan (illness) will return to the Flames lineup on Thursday.