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

[newfy]

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.

Well one poster put a sarcastic face after talking about it.

I dont think anyone is making a mountain of it. Its just the stupid type of play that Merkley makes defensively and apparently refuses to learn from which is why he fell in the draft. Not so much the mistake but from all reports the fact that he would refuse to listen to the coach after something like that and do it again.

Its also such a selfish play. He could easily skate past that guy and chip it off the glass, wants the goal from behind his goal line and the other team gets a goal off of it. That play is a good example of why he fell in the draft, of course people will talk about it

 

[blindpass]

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.

Seemed like you were doing that when you dredged it up again mockingly. There's plenty of room between a molehill and a mountain.

 

[Castle8130]

People make mistakes and that mistake didn't end up hurting his team that badly because they won the game in ot.

 

[blindpass]

People make mistakes and that mistake didn't end up hurting his team that badly because they won the game in ot.

I hope he's not dumb enough to look at it this way.

 

[biturbo19]

One mistake sends the couch potatoes into a frenzy lol

I think the point is, it's not "one mistake"...it's a pattern of similar mistakes with this player.

It may just be one play, but it's a perfect representation of the issue with Merkley, wrapped up in one absolutely braindead play. That's not, "awww shucks the kid's trying to be too creative"...it's just not following basic systems play and common sense. Players, especially defencemen, who can't balance risk/reward properly and show repeated issues integrating into a system to play a team game...will not play for NHL coaches.

There's tons to like there with the outstanding skating, the puck skills, the creativity and vision in the offensive zone. But if he can't figure out how to actually play within a system and avoid the sort of stupid selfish/braindead plays depicted in that one example, it's not going to amount to much.

 

[SAM STEVENS]

This guy drives me nuts he does the dumbest things then all we see is the great play after he make 10 bad ones. This guy keeps getting hyped up and endless opportunities I really don't understand how some can do no wrong... He is a 50 foot player for every 1 he gets he costs 4.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Weird how he looked perfectly fine at an NHL training camp, and then looks “brain dead” in the OHL. Perhaps he just plays to the level of his competition.

 

[Killerjas]

Weird how he looked perfectly fine at an NHL training camp, and then looks “brain dead” in the OHL. Perhaps he just plays to the level of his competition.

Maybe the lack of motivation to play in the OHL? He seems like the kind of player to get very easily emotional when things don't go his way.

 

[Kevs Security]

But what about his attitude issues

 

[nbwingsfan]

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

And some NHL staff didnt even want to draft him...

 

[blindpass]

Weird how he looked perfectly fine at an NHL training camp, and then looks “brain dead” in the OHL. Perhaps he just plays to the level of his competition.

Anyone who has no concerns about his character has their head in the sand. Intriguing prospect with several well documented red flags, simple as that. I hope he manages to put it all together.

 

[SAM STEVENS]

And some NHL staff didnt even want to draft him...

The thing that made me drop my mouth was in the draft was when on national TV they said he was on most teams do not draft list! How bad do his issues need to be for them to say it live? Yet the OHL, team Canada still gives this guy every single opportunity. makes you think why he has never had to change his ways because he continues to be rewarded.

 

[93LEAFS]

The thing that made me drop my mouth was in the draft was when on national TV they said he was on most teams do not draft list! How bad do his issues need to be for them to say it live? Yet the OHL, team Canada still gives this guy every single opportunity. makes you think why he has never had to change his ways because he continues to be rewarded.

Team Canada didn't give him an invite to the World Junior Camp this year, and gave many guys drafted in the same range that opportunity.

 

[SAM STEVENS]

Team Canada didn't give him an invite to the World Junior Camp this year, and gave many guys drafted in the same range that opportunity.

I did see he is playing both games in the CIBC Canada Russia series is that a different selection process?

 

[93LEAFS]

I did see he is playing both games in the CIBC Canada Russia series is that a different selection process?

More players get invited to that than the Summer Selection Camp. You don't have to be at the summer selection camp to make it though.

 

[Peasy]

Watched him live over the weekend. Definitely seemed like he was bored at times. Unfortunate for him because hes going to have to spend at least another year in the OHL.

But his overall D game was fine, nothing to scoff at.

 

[SAM STEVENS]

More players get invited to that than the Summer Selection Camp. You don't have to be at the summer selection camp to make it though.

Well maybe this kid figures it out.

 

[bishop12]

Anyone who is close to Storm or OHL want to chime in how Merkley is doing so far this season?

 

[TheWayToRefJose]

He's on pace for 90ish points this year and is almost neutral in +/-. Seems to be a pretty drastic improvement in stats at least.

 

[Thebesthockey]

steal of the draft....


hey he was on the no draft list

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Weird how he looked perfectly fine at an NHL training camp, and then looks “brain dead” in the OHL. Perhaps he just plays to the level of his competition.

That's generally not a desirable trait.

 

[typicalsavage]

This guy drives me nuts he does the dumbest things then all we see is the great play after he make 10 bad ones. This guy keeps getting hyped up and endless opportunities I really don't understand how some can do no wrong... He is a 50 foot player for every 1 he gets he costs 4.

Hes played with some of my buddies throughout the years. Theres a lot of anger, selfishness and immaturity with this guy on top of what you said. I can see why teams passed on him.

 

[Thebesthockey]

Hes played with some of my buddies throughout the years. Theres a lot of anger, selfishness and immaturity with this guy on top of what you said. I can see why teams passed on him.

oh yes those pee wee days

 

[typicalsavage]

oh yes those pee wee days

Hes done stuff ive never seen anyone else do. Even in high school, he was still acting ike an idiot. Hell, he swing his twig at someone with Guelph last year.

 

[Thebesthockey]

Hes done stuff ive never seen anyone else do. Even in high school, he was still acting ike an idiot. Hell, he swing his twig at someone with Guelph last year.

oh the horror !