Prospect Info: 2018 Draft: Round 1, Pick #21 - Ryan Merkley, D (Guelph Storm/OHL)

[Gene Parmesan]

I remember people used to complain about Vlasic being ‘soft’ during the eternal Vlasic vs. Murray debates circa 2010-2011. So it had to be after that.

Rob Blake gave him pointers. I don't think people realize how good Rob's 08/09 season was for S.J. Put up 45 points at 39 playing nearly 22 minutes a night.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Rob Blake gave him pointers.

Rob Blake was awesome.

 

[Lebanezer]

 

[AgentCooper]

What are the chances Merkley makes Team Canada for the WJC?

 

[hohosaregood]

What are the chances Merkley makes Team Canada for the WJC?

I feel like his general reputation is too low for it to happen and then you got the rest of the guys who were just picked top 10 and the 2017 kids too. I'd think it'd look like

Ferraro-Makar
Hague-Dobson
Bouchard-Ty Smith

Edit: I actually don't know who's eligible anymore but the top half of that might be done with WJCs

 

[hohosaregood]

Development Camp Roster

No Merkley here. He's gonna need to go hard in the defensive zone if he wants that invite.

 

[AgentCooper]

Development Camp Roster

No Merkley here. He's gonna need to go hard in the defensive zone if he wants that invite.

Damn. No Ferraro either.

 

[wishman]

Damn. No Ferraro either.

I believe Ferraro is not eligible since he was born in '98.

 

[Lebanezer]

Development Camp Roster

No Merkley here. He's gonna need to go hard in the defensive zone if he wants that invite.

Let the snubs begin.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Development Camp Roster

No Merkley here. He's gonna need to go hard in the defensive zone if he wants that invite.

So what exactly is a Development camp for? Honest question here. I thought prospects would get an invite despite their shortcomings.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

I remember people used to complain about Vlasic being ‘soft’ during the eternal Vlasic vs. Murray debates circa 2010-2011. So it had to be after that.

Were people really debating Vlasic Vs. Murray? I remember in 2009-2010, when I first started watching, I knew very little about hockey, but it became very clear to me almost immediately that Douglas Murray was absolutely terrible. People loved him for his big hits, and his fighting ability, but he was terrible.

 

[hohosaregood]

Were people really debating Vlasic Vs. Murray? I remember in 2009-2010, when I first started watching, I knew very little about hockey, but it became very clear to me almost immediately that Douglas Murray was absolutely terrible. People loved him for his big hits, and his fighting ability, but he was terrible.

Murray was legit good until like 2011 and took a huge dive off a cliff 2012ish.

 

[Satastic]

Where do you think Merkley would’ve gotten drafted if he didn’t have the attitude problems?

Just a curious thought that came into my mind

 

[hohosaregood]

Where do you think Merkley would’ve gotten drafted if he didn’t have the attitude problems?

Just a curious thought that came into my mind

I'd guess he'd be ranked closer to Adam Boqvist but he still has his issues defensively.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Where do you think Merkley would’ve gotten drafted if he didn’t have the attitude problems?

Just a curious thought that came into my mind

I read a couple of articles which said top 5 overall. They believe that his defensive issues are a result of his attitude problems. If he fixes his attitude the defensive issues should get sorted out.

Guess we will find out.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Were people really debating Vlasic Vs. Murray? I remember in 2009-2010, when I first started watching, I knew very little about hockey, but it became very clear to me almost immediately that Douglas Murray was absolutely terrible. People loved him for his big hits, and his fighting ability, but he was terrible.

Yep. You have to remember that before Murray fell off a cliff he was pretty decent, and that he was a great partner to Boyle in the same way that Ryan is to Burns: a good stylistic fit allows the player to fill a slot higher than their individual ability. Also, Vlasic was still very much a #3 at best at the time. His offense was absolutely non-existent and his shot was often compared to a wounded butterfly. It wasn’t as absurd a comparison as it sounds in hindsight.

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Yep. You have to remember that before Murray fell off a cliff he was pretty decent, and that he was a great partner to Boyle in the same way that Ryan is to Burns: a good stylistic fit allows the player to fill a slot higher than their individual ability. Also, Vlasic was still very much a #3 at best at the time. His offense was absolutely non-existent and his shot was often compared to a wounded butterfly. It wasn’t as absurd a comparison as it sounds in hindsight.

Douglas was at his most mobile at 235-240. By the end he had to have been pushing 260+.

 

[Alwalys]

douglas murray is a humongous human being

 

[STL Shark]

Yep. You have to remember that before Murray fell off a cliff he was pretty decent, and that he was a great partner to Boyle in the same way that Ryan is to Burns: a good stylistic fit allows the player to fill a slot higher than their individual ability. Also, Vlasic was still very much a #3 at best at the time. His offense was absolutely non-existent and his shot was often compared to a wounded butterfly. It wasn’t as absurd a comparison as it sounds in hindsight.

His shot still does suck in fairness. Early Vlasic was literally only capable of chipping off the boards and skating so I can see why people were making those comparisons (even though they look foolish now). Still the most amazing feat of DW’s career was a pair of 2nd rounders for Cranky. Followed by one of the worst moves which was trading one of those picks for Tyler Kennedy.

 

[OrrNumber4]

Were people really debating Vlasic Vs. Murray? I remember in 2009-2010, when I first started watching, I knew very little about hockey, but it became very clear to me almost immediately that Douglas Murray was absolutely terrible. People loved him for his big hits, and his fighting ability, but he was terrible.

Vlasic was clearly better, but Murray was a fantastic fit with Boyle (Sharks struggled to find the ideal partner for Vlasic) and really grew into his role. Partly, it was due to expectations. Vlasic had a phenomenal rookie season and was drawing comparisons to Lidstrom with his smarts; he followed it up with a fairly productive year and everyone thought the offense was going to develop. Not only did that not happen, but his defensive prowess stagnated. It took him a while to break out into this #1 defensive D-man.

Compare that to Murray, an eighth-round pick who beat all expectations and improved every year before crashing down to Earth (not literally...that would cause another mass extinction!).

 

[Used As A Shield]

Even with Murrays lack of speed, he still managed his angles really well, at least until the last two or so seasons where his lack of foot speed was being exposed. I did love those hits though, dude was just a tank.

 

[ChubbChubby]

Vlasic couldn't break a pane of glass with his shot before. Now he might be able to put a crack in it.

 

[The Nemesis]

Even with Murrays lack of speed, he still managed his angles really well, at least until the last two or so seasons where his lack of foot speed was being exposed. I did love those hits though, dude was just a tank.

I remember once he was on the point with the puck and a (I think) Rangers guy took a run at him to knock him off the puck. It might have been Prust. And he collided with Murray and he fell down while Murray didn't even budge. That was fantastic

 

[rangerssharks414]

I still can't believe that the Sharks got two 2nd round picks for Murray. But of course, they traded one of those 2nds for Tyler Kennedy. (They took Noah Rod with the other one.)

Back to Merkley for a sec, I watched the first round of the draft with one of my buddies. He's convinced that Merkley's direct comp is Tony DeAngelo. God, I hope not.

 

[hohosaregood]

I still can't believe that the Sharks got two 2nd round picks for Murray. But of course, they traded one of those 2nds for Tyler Kennedy. (They took Noah Rod with the other one.)

Back to Merkley for a sec, I watched the first round of the draft with one of my buddies. He's convinced that Merkley's direct comp is Tony DeAngelo. God, I hope not.

I don't really think so. DeAngelo was an unabashed racist asshole and got an ungodly amount of ice time like Goldobin did from how I remember it.