Blue Jackets Hire Niklas Backstrom as Goaltending Coach

The Blue Jackets filled their vacant goaltending coach position on Wednesday, hiring former NHL goaltender Niklas Backstrom to replace Manny Legace.

This was one of the worst-kept secrets in the organization, a move that had been anticipated for the last little while. Backstrom had been handling the role of goaltending coach in Europe for the Jackets since 2019; helping develop team’s prospects overseas.

Backstrom will take on a much more important role in Columbus, where he’ll be tasked immediately with helping rejuvenate the career of Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins struggled hard last season, and aside from the improvements made to the roster and behind the bench, is the most important piece…