"@TSNBobMcKenzie: Univ Of Michigan D Jon Merrill has decided to leave school and has signed with NJD. Reporting to AHL, presumably for balance of season."
Per @TSNBOBMCKENZIE
"@TSNBobMcKenzie: Univ Of Michigan D Jon Merrill has decided to leave school and has signed with NJD. Reporting to AHL, presumably for balance of season."
woo
how many games left this season?
Barring any injuries on the big club or a monster start to his AHL career, I hope he stays all season in the A next year. At this point Urbom, Gelinas and possibly Burlon are ahead of him.
I think I would rather he have stayed at UM. Slightly (and I mean really slightly) because I may end up there next year for school. More so because he hasn't played a full season of college hockey for a competitive team, and when he returned this year he was really overshadowed by Trouba.
I don't know if Trouba is just THAT good (I think it's possible) or if JM just isn't that spectacular, but Merrill wasn't playing the big minutes I'd hope from one of our top prospects. It's also possible that, like some of the commentators and others here have mentioned, he doesn't play a flashy, overly offensive/defensive game; just solid on both ends.
I could see Merrill kind of being a "bust" and instead of being a real offensive force, he's more like Tallinder in his prime. 20 points on average year in year out with solid defense and mobile enough (like Tallinder was)
If Merrill turns out to be like Tallinder, that is far from a bust
Forget his on-ice abilities or potential, the kid needs a year in the minors to get used to living on his own and being a professional day in, day out and prove he deserves a shot to show his on-ice talents.
He's got a road ahead of him, but it's not impossible.
I think I would rather he have stayed at UM. Slightly (and I mean really slightly) because I may end up there next year for school. More so because he hasn't played a full season of college hockey for a competitive team, and when he returned this year he was really overshadowed by Trouba.
I don't know if Trouba is just THAT good (I think it's possible) or if JM just isn't that spectacular, but Merrill wasn't playing the big minutes I'd hope from one of our top prospects. It's also possible that, like some of the commentators and others here have mentioned, he doesn't play a flashy, overly offensive/defensive game; just solid on both ends.