Merzlikins was banged up in the Blue Jackets’ Game 4 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs and was not available to backup in Game 5. Head coach John Tortorella was not sure how long Merzlikins will be out when he met with the media on Monday. Look for Joonas Korpisalo to start Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
Merzlikins exploded onto the scene in his first year in North America, going 13-9-8 with a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV% and five shutouts. Merzlikins went on an eight-game winning streak from mid-January to mid-February and was hurt right before the season paused. This signing comes less than a week after Columbus signed Joonas Korpisalo to a two-year, $5.6 million extension ($2.8M AAV), so they've got their young goaltending duo tied up for the next two seasons at a $6.9M AAV cap-hit.
Jaros played in the last seven games with the Senators but will swap spots with Christian Wolanin and return to Belleville. He has two goals and 13 assists (15 points) in 32 AHL games this year.
Thurkauf, 22, played in three straight NHL games but returns to the AHL with Alexander Wennberg and Riley Nash returning to the Blue Jackets lineup. Thurkauf has nine goals and 16 assists (25 points) in 47 games with Cleveland.
Merzlikins was hurt in a collision with Anthony Duclair midway through the second period and as taken out of Monday's game. The Blue Jackets announced that he will not return. Luckily, they just got Joonas Korpisalo back and he entered the game for the rookie netminder.
Gudbranson has been out for the last eight games and the updated timetable suggests he'll miss at least seven more. Brendan Guhle has been bumped into a top-4 role.
Thurkauf made his NHL debut in Nashville on Saturday, playing 8:01 TOI. The 22-year-old former seventh-round pick has picked up 25 points (9G / 16A) in 47 AHL games this season and is expected to be back on a line with Kevin Stenlund and Emil Bemstrom.
