Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start Saturday vs. the Kraken.
Columbus Blue Jackets News
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start the Blue Jackets season opener on Thursday.
Wood (lower-body) was placed on IR on Monday but remains eligible for Friday's season opener.
Wood's lower-body injury landed him on IR on Monday but he remains "questionable" for the Devils' first game of the season. Monitor Wood's status as the week progresses and expect Marian Studnic and Jimmy Vesey to both get looks if he can't play.
Severson (lower-body) was placed on IR but is questionable to play in the Devils season opener.
Severson is dealing with a lower-body injury that landed him on IR on Monday but he is eligible to come off and play on Friday. With Severson and Ty Smith both questionable, PK Subban could see additional usage at 5v5 and on PP2.
Aston-Reese (COVID-19) will not play in the Penguins season opener on Tuesday.
Aston-Reese missed some of the preseason after a positive COVID-19 test in late September and will not be available for the season opener on Tuesday. However, Aston-Reese did travel to Florida and will be re-evaluated ahead of Thursday's game vs. the Panthers.
Aston-Reese has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out indefinitely.
The Blue Jackets have signed Elvis Merzlikins to a five-year, $27 million contract extension.
Merzlikins missed some time with injuries in 2021 but the Blue Jackets are committed to him as their No.1 option on Tuesday, signing him to a five-year deal. Merzlikins greatly outperformed Joonas Korpisalo last year, posting a .916 SV% in 28 appearances and has breakout potential for 2022.
The Flames have signed Erik Gudbranson to a one-year contract.
The Blue Jackets have signed Cole Sillinger to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Blue Jackets have signed Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Blue Jackets have signed Stanislav Svozil to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Ducks have re-signed Isac Lundestrom to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Penguins have signed Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year deal worth $1.725 million.
The Predators have re-signed Dante Fabbro to a two-year contract worth $4.8 million ($2.4M AAV).
The Blue Jackets have signed Brendan Gaunce to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Blue Jackets have signed Zach Werenski to a six-year contract extension worth $57.498 million ($9.583M AAV).
The Predators have re-signed Mathieu Olivier to a two-year contract.
The Blue Jackets have signed Boone Jenner to a four-year extension worth $15.0 million ($3.75M AAV).
The Devils have signed Christian Jaros to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
Jaros immediately signed a two-way contract with the Devils after being dealt from San Jose. Jaros has spent most of his time in the AHL over the last two seasons, so expect that to be the case again in 2021-22.
The Devils have acquired Christian Jaros from the Sharks for Nick Merkley.
This is the second time in seventh months that Jaros has been traded. After moving from Ottawa to San Jose, Jatos had one assist in seven games with the Sharks and three assists in 11 AHL games. In New Jersey, he will likely report to the AHL to start 2021-22.