jon merill

[mckly]

is he a first round talent? i heard his stock was rising... any info?

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[Zubrus Coffee Maker]

i remember hearing that he was a first round talent, but somehow bombed the interviews before the draft and dropped to the second round.

 

[mckly]

how would he compare to tinordi, psysk and other defensemen drafted higher than him?

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

how would he compare to tinordi, psysk and other defensemen drafted higher than him?

Top defensemen on a Team USA that featured Faulk and and Leddy. I would say he is quite a bit ahead of this stage.

 

[SuperSaiyanBeastmode]

future of the devils d, if the draft was redone i'd put him around 20 imo.

 

[Saugus]

I'm sure the Devils are pleased with his progress at Michigan. He impressed in the NCAA tournament.

 

[BeastoftheEast85]

I have been debating Merrill, Faulk and Forbort with a couple friend, just from WJ and a few college games. Anyone who sees them regularly have an opinion?

 

[SDig14]

i remember hearing that he was a first round talent, but somehow bombed the interviews before the draft and dropped to the second round.

Some teams didn't like how he answered questions about his mistakes that led to his suspension from the USNTDP during his draft year, but there could have been other character issues as well I'm not sure.

I think lots of people considered him a top 20 talent, so the Devils I'm sure are very pleased with that pick and he has been improving a lot since the draft.

Young kids make mistakes, but I'm sure he learned from them and will be just fine for the Devils. They could definitely use him a great deal in a couple years.

 

[17Kurri]

I have been debating Merrill, Faulk and Forbort with a couple friend, just from WJ and a few college games. Anyone who sees them regularly have an opinion?

From somewhat limited viewings, I'd rank them Forbort, Merrill, Faulk.

 

[Brodeur]

Some teams didn't like how he answered questions about his mistakes that led to his suspension from the USNTDP during his draft year, but there could have been other character issues as well I'm not sure.

http://mckeenshockey.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1076474

I'm a freshman in a bigger, stronger, faster game, and you get up for every game, because you only play 35, 40 games, or whatever it is. Every game is a big game. Whereas in the CHL, you're playing in Sudbury on a Tuesday night, and how do you get up for that, you know?

There were probably the standard questions about why he went the college route rather than the OHL (3rd round pick by Plymouth off the top of my head). I think teams were potentially turned off by that comment along with Merrill having a relatively disappointing draft year before he turned it on at the U-18 tourney. Teams maybe weren't ready to use a high pick on a guy they worried had a questionable motor.

So far he looks pretty solid, his puck handling abilities look great so far. Defensively, still needs some work which is standard for virtually all 19 year old D. For a guy that's 6'3, you'd like him to be more physical but he's pretty good using his long reach.

 

[Kvashinator12]

He was awful at the WJC and i prefer Faulk over both

 

[R8Devs]

He was awful at the WJC and i prefer Faulk over both

But he wasn't?

He was USA's top d-man.

 

[JimEIV]

This year has been incredible for him. From the WJC to NCAA tournament and him taking on such a prominent role on a good team as a freshman; You really couldn't've written a better script for Merrill.

 

[JimEIV]

He was awful at the WJC and i prefer Faulk over both

He was named team USA's best defenseman of the tournament. What are you talking about???

 

[Jaysfanatic*]

I'll laugh if he becomes a legit #1 d-man with the Devils.

Then they hands down won the Kovalchuk deal.

 

[JimEIV]

I'll laugh if he becomes a legit #1 d-man with the Devils.

Then they hands down won the Kovalchuk deal.

He reminds me of Paul Martin with better offensive instincts

 

[Jaysfanatic*]

He reminds me of Paul Martin with better offensive instincts

Good, because I'm more offensive than Paul Martin is.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

He was awful at the WJC and i prefer Faulk over both

He wasnt "awful" for the whole tourney. He was awful against Canada.

Thats why I hate the WJC. People put so much stock into 4 or 5 games.

If you asked me, the way he played in the CCHA and NCAAs is more indicative. He's got top-2 abilities.

I still think he's two or three years away.

 

[MasterofGrond]

He wasnt "awful" for the whole tourney. He was awful against Canada.

Thats why I hate the WJC. People put so much stock into 4 or 5 games.

If you asked me, the way he played in the CCHA and NCAAs is more indicative. He's got top-2 abilities.

I still think he's two or three years away.

Without a doubt. He'll do at least one more year at Michigan, and then some time in the AHL to acclimate himself to the pro game. The Devils don't rush prospects.

 

[CerebralGenesis]

He wasnt "awful" for the whole tourney. He was awful against Canada.

Thats why I hate the WJC. People put so much stock into 4 or 5 games.

If you asked me, the way he played in the CCHA and NCAAs is more indicative. He's got top-2 abilities.

I still think he's two or three years away.

Glad to hear that. The Devs could use a solid defense and Merrill only adds to the pool

 

[Saugus]

Merrill played fine at the WJC. And he was very good in the NCAA Tournament for Michigan. Red Berenson has compared his style of play to Nicklas Lidstrom. High praise, to be sure.

 

[member 30781]

He was awful at the WJC and i prefer Faulk over both

Yea right. Far from it.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I love Jon Merrill and he's one of the few non-Sharks prospects I follow and hope to see succeed in the NHL some day.

 

[AmericanDream]

I love Jon Merrill and he's one of the few non-Sharks prospects I follow and hope to see succeed in the NHL some day.

have to agree.

sometimes the draft interviewing process is flawed and here is such a case.

so what if the kid didnt answer certain questions the way many would have liked, I think he is a kid with a lot of heart and certainly a kid with a ton of talent.

he said he wouldnt be able to get up for games in the CHL as he would for Michigan (that is not exact but pretty much the jist), and people got all bent out of shape for it. his dream was to be a Wolverine and he had no desire to play in the CHL. Now some teams are really looking foolish, because Merrill as it stands should not have fallen out of the top 20.

one of my favorite players, I hope he continues to shine and make the Devils look like geniuses again with Parise version 2.0 (drafted lower then where he should have gone).

 

[JimEIV]

have to agree.

sometimes the draft interviewing process is flawed and here is such a case.

so what if the kid didnt answer certain questions the way many would have liked, I think he is a kid with a lot of heart and certainly a kid with a ton of talent.

he said he wouldnt be able to get up for games in the CHL as he would for Michigan (that is not exact but pretty much the jist), and people got all bent out of shape for it. his dream was to be a Wolverine and he had no desire to play in the CHL. Now some teams are really looking foolish, because Merrill as it stands should not have fallen out of the top 20.

one of my favorite players, I hope he continues to shine and make the Devils look like geniuses again with Parise version 2.0 (drafted lower then where he should have gone).

No easier way to get a Canadian team to pass on you than take a dig at the CHL....He didn't only say he couldn't get up for games there, he also called the NCAA a "bigger, stronger, faster game".

I personally think what he said was more measured than some might think.