COLUMBUS, Ohio — A nightmare NHL debut in Pittsburgh. Seven consecutive losses (0-4-3) to start his Blue Jackets career. A memorable first win on New Year’s Eve in Nationwide Arena. A dominating stretch that earned him league awards in January and February. A concussion that knocked him out of the lineup for 10 days.



Elvis Merzlikins’ first season in the NHL has been fascinating and memorable on many levels, and that was before a once-a-century pandemic threw the brakes on the 2019-20 season. Nobody can say if Merzlikins’ first NHL season will resume again, either.



But this we know: A conversation with Merzlikins is never boring.



In the course of a 29-minute phone chat with The Athletic earlier this week, Merzlikins was an open book, from the make-or-break moment he reached early this season, his relationship with coach John Tortorella, if he’d accept a backup’s role next season, and how he likes living in...