In a candid and eyebrow-raising interview with The Hockey News’ Derek O’Brien, Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli pulled back the curtain on the storm brewing behind the scenes in Columbus—and the name at the center of it all? Elvis Merzlikins.
The Blue Jackets’ goaltender has been a lightning rod for controversy all season long, and now, two of the team’s brightest young stars have finally spoken out.
“It’s been tough,” said Johnson, choosing his words carefully. “There’s been a lot going on, and not everything makes it to the cameras or the fans. But yeah, it affected the room.”
Fantilli, never one to mince words, went even further.
“We’re trying to build something here,” he said. “And when there’s friction—when not everyone’s pulling the same way—it’s hard. I think that’s fair to say.”
While both players stopped short of directly calling out Merzlikins, the implications were crystal clear. The tension between the Jackets’ young core and their veteran netminder has been one of the worst-kept secrets in the league this season. From his cryptic postgame comments to reported clashes in practice, Merzlikins’ future in Columbus has been murky at best.
“We’ve got a lot of talent in this room,” Johnson added. “But culture matters just as much as skill.”
This interview comes amid swirling rumors that Merzlikins could be on the move this offseason, with sources indicating Columbus may be quietly exploring trade options.
O’Brien’s piece with THN pulls no punches, offering a rare look at the internal dynamics of a young team struggling to find its identity—and perhaps, beginning to define who’s part of their future and who isn’t.
One thing is clear: Johnson and Fantilli just sent a message. The next chapter of the Blue Jackets begins now—with or without Elvis