D Ryan Merkley - Peterborough Petes, OHL (2018, 21st, SJS)

[93LEAFS]

Shocking pick by the Sharks that will send shockwaves through the rest of the draft, the scrambling by Ottawa after shows us he wasn't going any further than 22, blueballing the world of a potential Merkley-Karlsson pairing.
San Jose should be a great fit for him, I sounded harsh a few posts ago and I do wish Merkley all the best.

Funny how certain posts age.

 

[Castle8130]

What I get from Merkley is that he tries very hard to be an outgoing and dominant player in the ohl, but when he plays against tougher competition, he is more relaxed, calm, and reserved.

 

[blindpass]

He was in no position to clear it off the boards, if it shoots it around the boards, the defender stops it at the blueline.

He wasn't trying to spring anyone on a breakaway, he was simply trying to clear the puck but fanned on the attempt...

Looks like he was going for the empty net.

 

[Alwalys]

The smart play there is probably to eat it, but as a real little dude that is riskier than for others.

 

[Legend123]

He was in no position to clear it off the boards, if it shoots it around the boards, the defender stops it at the blueline.

He wasn't trying to spring anyone on a breakaway, he was simply trying to clear the puck but fanned on the attempt...

lol the only play and the safest was to hit it off the boards with 10 seconds or hold onto it and find a clear lane to shoot. Instead he changes his body position and slap passes it to no one in particular despite having around 2 opponents. Defending him on this makes u look a real fool.

 

[Alwalys]

eh, it was a choice. gotta try shit out when you are in the minor leagues.

 

[ijuka]

He continues to be an absolute liability in the defensive zone in junior hockey. Here he is up 1 with 10 seconds left. This happens far, far too often

Honestly, this play, in junior hockey? Doesn't really matter. He tries stuff, doesn't work out -> Not a big deal. It's only a problem if he does that at the pro level. In juniors, I think it's much better to try and perfect your game rather than just being good enough.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Honestly, this play, in junior hockey? Doesn't really matter. He tries stuff, doesn't work out -> Not a big deal. It's only a problem if he does that at the pro level. In juniors, I think it's much better to try and perfect your game rather than just being good enough.

I've heard this too many times. So far to me he looks like DeAngelo so far in that he had a ton of hype, possible attitude issues. Clear skillset but ultimately his skills were not enough to establish a career when he didn't put in the work and his defensive play was hurting the team everytime they were on the ice.

Right now, he is still very much a project but is more likely to bust than make it IMO. That said, if he matures, and IF the Sharks get him to put in some serious work, he might become a Sergachev type D for them in a few years which would be a steal. I get the excitement about him for sure as the potential makes you drool but in reality I have seen far too many of these guys come and go in my years as a fan to be optimistic.

 

[Generalsupdates]

crapping on him because he tried to clear
big deal bad luck thats all
sheesh

I think it's more "guy who shouldn't have gone in the first round because he makes really bad decisions, a lot, continues to make really bad decisions". But SJ fans will see that soon enough. If he can't even get away with it in junior, there's absolutely no way it works in pro hockey, let alone the NHL

 

[Thebesthockey]

I think it's more "guy who shouldn't have gone in the first round because he makes really bad decisions, a lot, continues to make really bad decisions". But SJ fans will see that soon enough. If he can't even get away with it in junior, there's absolutely no way it works in pro hockey, let alone the NHL

well i trust much more an nhl staff to make those decisions than a keyboard GM

 

[CupInSIX]

What I get from Merkley is that he tries very hard to be an outgoing and dominant player in the ohl, but when he plays against tougher competition, he is more relaxed, calm, and reserved.

I think it's more "guy who shouldn't have gone in the first round because he makes really bad decisions, a lot, continues to make really bad decisions". But SJ fans will see that soon enough. If he can't even get away with it in junior, there's absolutely no way it works in pro hockey, let alone the NHL

They said the same thing about PK fwiw

But we'll see

 

[NamesAreHardToChoose]

He was in no position to clear it off the boards, if it shoots it around the boards, the defender stops it at the blueline.

He wasn't trying to spring anyone on a breakaway, he was simply trying to clear the puck but fanned on the attempt...

You would think people would realize the situation before commenting. Even through it all, this shouldn't have been a situation to talk about in the beginning. There should have been no comeback. I hate seeing everyone blame Merkley for 5 goals when he's been solid since he returned.

 

[blindpass]

The smart play there is probably to eat it, but as a real little dude that is riskier than for others.

With that little time on the clock even putting it over the glass is fine. Icing certainly is ok, so he had better options than trying to score (which I think he was doing). Agree that too much is being made of it. Hopefully he learns something from it. He did seem upset about the mistake, that's a good sign.

 

[Alwalys]

hehe btw your username checks out

 

[LeafChief]

He continues to be an absolute liability in the defensive zone in junior hockey. Here he is up 1 with 10 seconds left. This happens far, far too often

That is an ugly, ugly play.

 

[Hynh]

He continues to be an absolute liability in the defensive zone in junior hockey. Here he is up 1 with 10 seconds left. This happens far, far too often

The worst part is that the boxscore didn't even give him a minus for that.

Ontario Hockey League – Official Site of the Ontario Hockey League

 

[bishop12]

Merk threw up a beauty game last night.....can't wait for tonight!

 

[VictorLustig]

Obviously not a great moment but that's perhaps the type of mistake you want him to make. He will learn from it.

 

[SabresSharks]

That is an ugly, ugly play.

Brutal. Peewee house league brutal.

Just in case anyone is confused ... major junior teams are actually trying to, you know, win games. They're not playtoys for the Merkleys of the world to try crazy shit out just because it isn't the NHL.

 

[bishop12]

One mistake sends the couch potatoes into a frenzy lol

 

[Tryamkin]

Great performance today, earning the first star with a goal and two assists. Now has 10 pts in 7 games, 8 of those assists.

 

[stl76]

Great performance today, earning the first star with a goal and two assists. Now has 10 pts in 7 games, 8 of those assists.

Yeah, but did you even see that turnover with 10 seconds left?!

 

[blindpass]

Yeah, but did you even see that turnover with 10 seconds left?!

Just as stupid to act like it was nothing as to overreact to it. We know he can put up points, that's never been the question with him.

 

[Tryamkin]

Yeah, but did you even see that turnover with 10 seconds left?!

Yeah that was brutal, he’s an offensive defenseman for a reason aha

 

[stl76]

Just as stupid to act like it was nothing as to overreact to it. We know he can put up points, that's never been the question with him.

I don’t see anyone in this thread saying it was nothing. It was a brutal turnover and a dumb play.

A molehill is something, but it’s still absurd to make a mountain out of it.