The Weekly Dis
Elvis has not left the building. The Stanley Cup shows up at the Gaudreaus' place in South Jersey. Maggie calls in the middle of a Discast.
The Blue Jackets on Thursday announced that Elvis Merzlikins had shoulder surgery on Monday
Here's the press release:
It's not unusual for the Blue Jackets – among other teams – to be vague about injuries. Waddell, generally speaking, seems to consider this a best practice. Especially for press releases.
In the case of "a shoulder injury," the timeline for return varies widely. If it's something that needs an arthroscopic fix, that could mean as little as 4-6 weeks of recovery time. If it's something more complex that requires a scalpel – rotator-cuff or labral repair – that could mean 6-12 months.
That's quite a range there.
I know a lot of fans took this news and began thinking immediately about Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) and cap flexibility. I'm sure some less-than-charitable types are even celebrating this because it's Elvis, whose contract has not balanced his performance. To put it mildly. His goals-against average and save percentage numbers have been awful – he hasn't been top-50 in either of those categories since the 2020-21 season.
I'm not going to sit here and bash Elvis. My arms are tired. The aim is to take a sober accouting of his situation.
There is some flexibility gained from LTIR, but it's not a blank check. When a player on LTIR is ultimately cleared, he must be activated, and when he is activated, his team must be roster compliant.
The feeling here is that "experiencing some discomfort" suggests Merzlikins hasn't shorn a rotator cuff or shredded a labrum. When will he be rehabilitated and cleared? I think sooner, meaning sometime before Thanksgiving, or maybe Halloween. Or maybe even opening night. But I can't swear to anything.
Merzlikins has one year remaining with a cap hit of $5.4 million. Given his numbers and his injury history, he's not a player who is easily traded. His situation, then, hasn't really changed since Waddell took over in May of 2024. Absent a buyout – which, I suppose, is more of a possibility in this, the last year of his contract – the Jackets are stuck with him.
If Merzlikins is designated as an LTIR player, the news certainly won't be announced until rosters are submitted on the eve of the first day of the NHL regular season, which is Sept. 29. Five and a half weeks from today. That's quite a range.
Waddell signed veteran Phoenix Copley for depth, and that now looks like a smart move.
Whatever happens with Mezlikins, it won't substantially impact the money that might be available to sign Adam Fantilli. The Jackets' top center is the last roster regular who remains out-of-contract. But he isn't the only prominent restricted free agent who has yet to sign an extension – others include Montreal defenseman Aber Xhekaj, Anaheim sniper Cutter Gauthier, Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin, Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson ...
I know fans are worried about Fantilli stilll hanging out there. I'm not so agitated.
Michael Arace
Per PuckPedia, Waddell has around $12.64 million in cap space. A trim here (look at the roster, and I bet you can find at least one) and maybe a little LTIR there, another injury or two ... there are a number of ways to find, say, $14 million per for Fantilli and be cap compliant by the time rosters are submitted.
Talks between Waddell and the Fantilli camp have been productive, by all accounts. The money will be there. As training camp nears, the pressure will mount on both sides to get something done.
I don't discount the off chance that everything flies off the rails, but we've all seen situations like this before, and seen them resolved, and then we've forgotten everything that happened before the ink hits the contract.
Sometimes, it's good when a former Jacket wins the Cup
Lovely story here:
Anna Kulesa
Eric Robinson's day with the Stanley Cup had a little extra meaning.
The Carolina Hurricanes forward brought the trophy to The Gaudreau Rink at Hollydell Ice Arena in Sewell, New Jersey on Thursday.
Robinson grew up playing at the New Jersey ice rink alongside Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau and was coached by the late brothers’ dad, Guy.
Guy, his daughter, Katie, son-in-law Devin, and grandson, Matthew, came out to the event to celebrate with Robinson. Gaudreau's dad hoisted the Cup over his head with Robinson.
@Canes Eric Robinson starts his day where it all began, ironically with the Hollydell Hurricanes. (Sewell, NJ) #StanleyCup @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/ILQbYb28cG
— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) August 21, 2026
Something to keep an eye on
This popped up Thursday morning.
The subject is covered in the latest episode of The Crewcible: see below.
This week in Discasting
Maggie called in the middle of The Crewcible
Maybe you're a Crew fan, Or, maybe you're curious about the Crew's chances as they head to Nashville and attempt to defeat the best team in the league today. Or, maybe you have no idea what Leagues Cup is, but you know what Club America is, and you're marginally aware that the Crew will be playing Club America in a Leagues Cup quarterfinal in L.A. on Wednesday. Just spitballing here.
In any of those cases, there can be no better warm-up for the week ahead than the latest episode of The Crewcible podcast. If I do say so myself.
Neil Sika, the Costas of Columbus, is in excellent form despite being on West Coast time. A wonderful guest he is. And he has had my red sauce, which Maggie calls about.
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Michael Arace
