Prospect Info: 2015 NHL Draft #30 - Nick Merkley C/RW
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Matias Maccete
Chopping up defenses
- Sep 21, 2014
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Full scouting report:
http://lastwordonsports.com/2015/04/19/2015-nhl-draft-profile-19-nick-merkley/
Fantastic pick. Wanted him at 26.
http://lastwordonsports.com/2015/04/19/2015-nhl-draft-profile-19-nick-merkley/
Fantastic pick. Wanted him at 26.
King'sPawn
Enjoy the chaos
- Jul 1, 2003
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DesertDawg
Registered User
Nick Merkley is a gritty medium sized forward capable of playing both wing and center positions. Merkley is a rather unique prospect in this draft class as he combines several skillsets that typically aren't seen together in one single player. Yet, Merkley manages to combine them together into one overall attractive package, ultimately resulting in him being a sort of a Swiss army knife player not only in his ability to play both positions but actually possessing skills that should allow him to play in different situations up and down the line-up at the next level.
At a very basic big picture level, Merkley is a gritty straight-line forward that isn't afraid to get his nose dirty by playing in traffic, taking physical abuse to make plays or dishing out physical punishment on his own. What makes Merkley unique is that he combines that direct straight-line game with well above-average vision and playmaking. Thus while we can say that Merkley is a playmaking forward, he is not a typical playmaker that has a more controlled, patient, cerebral approach to playmaking. Instead, Merkley has an aggressive, direct disposition and is more apt at producing turnovers and making those "last" quick direct passes into space for scoring chances. There isn't so much that controlled back and forth, give and go, east-west approach that is classically associated with playmaking forwards. Merkley is more of a north-south, aggressive type that however still displays high-end ability to set-up teammates.
Instead of slowly tightening the noose around the neck so to speak as classic skilled playmakers do by patiently manipulating space, Merkley does it by being aggressive on the ice and finding that one opening that he can pass into and produce a scoring chance. He often also passes into space and at different speeds so his teammates can "skate into" the puck. In fact this is one of the better facets of Merkley's game as he needs minimal time to process the space and knows what type of pass he needs to make, whether it is a direct quick one or one that needs to be passed into space at a slower speed. There isn't much thinking involved there with Merkley, it's an innate trait for him and he pulls it off instinctively.
He also has good overall mobility and is a plus skater and utilizes his skating accordingly as he displays ability to read "holes" and jump into them as needed. Defensively he is committed to supporting the play and plays the puck-carrier with above-average aggression. That is not to say that Merkley lacks positioning sense either offensively or defensively, it is just that his approach is quite an aggressive one as he prefers direct shortest lanes, over elaborate manipulation of space.
As a playmaker, that means he creates mostly off more chaotic less-stationary situations that he himself helps create with his aggression after that his ability to read the play then gives him the chance to exploit those half-breakdowns. Though possessing an above-average skill level, Merkley will not blow you away with his stickhandling or technical skills with the puck. However to his credit, on the cycle he does show decent ability to protect the puck and uses his stick in a manner that keeps the puck far away from his body and thus makes him hard to stick-check, despite not using many elaborate stickhandling manoeuvres. While I would consider him primarily a player that creates off broken plays and half-breaks with speed, he does do a decent job at being useful even when the play settles down.
Overall, Merkley is quite an unique prospect that provides a game that is based on emotion and a direct approach, he creates off that sustaining energy level and both he and his teammates feed off it. His skillset give him the ability to be a Swiss army knife of a player and due to that he could fulfil several roles on any roster while providing a high energy game for his team.
Developmentally going forward, he is the type of player that would in my opinion really benefit by adding mass to his frame (provided he doesn't lose speed if possible) as it would have an exponential effect on his strengths, I'd also like him to portray more deception by thinking shoot/pass in a more balanced manner.
With that in mind although I do not think he has the upside to be a top line center, he could be anything from a complimentary top line winger, to second line center if things work out really well for him, to more realistically a 2nd/3rd line winger or a 3rd line center with a high compete level that is an option on special teams.
At a very basic big picture level, Merkley is a gritty straight-line forward that isn't afraid to get his nose dirty by playing in traffic, taking physical abuse to make plays or dishing out physical punishment on his own. What makes Merkley unique is that he combines that direct straight-line game with well above-average vision and playmaking. Thus while we can say that Merkley is a playmaking forward, he is not a typical playmaker that has a more controlled, patient, cerebral approach to playmaking. Instead, Merkley has an aggressive, direct disposition and is more apt at producing turnovers and making those "last" quick direct passes into space for scoring chances. There isn't so much that controlled back and forth, give and go, east-west approach that is classically associated with playmaking forwards. Merkley is more of a north-south, aggressive type that however still displays high-end ability to set-up teammates.
Instead of slowly tightening the noose around the neck so to speak as classic skilled playmakers do by patiently manipulating space, Merkley does it by being aggressive on the ice and finding that one opening that he can pass into and produce a scoring chance. He often also passes into space and at different speeds so his teammates can "skate into" the puck. In fact this is one of the better facets of Merkley's game as he needs minimal time to process the space and knows what type of pass he needs to make, whether it is a direct quick one or one that needs to be passed into space at a slower speed. There isn't much thinking involved there with Merkley, it's an innate trait for him and he pulls it off instinctively.
He also has good overall mobility and is a plus skater and utilizes his skating accordingly as he displays ability to read "holes" and jump into them as needed. Defensively he is committed to supporting the play and plays the puck-carrier with above-average aggression. That is not to say that Merkley lacks positioning sense either offensively or defensively, it is just that his approach is quite an aggressive one as he prefers direct shortest lanes, over elaborate manipulation of space.
As a playmaker, that means he creates mostly off more chaotic less-stationary situations that he himself helps create with his aggression after that his ability to read the play then gives him the chance to exploit those half-breakdowns. Though possessing an above-average skill level, Merkley will not blow you away with his stickhandling or technical skills with the puck. However to his credit, on the cycle he does show decent ability to protect the puck and uses his stick in a manner that keeps the puck far away from his body and thus makes him hard to stick-check, despite not using many elaborate stickhandling manoeuvres. While I would consider him primarily a player that creates off broken plays and half-breaks with speed, he does do a decent job at being useful even when the play settles down.
Overall, Merkley is quite an unique prospect that provides a game that is based on emotion and a direct approach, he creates off that sustaining energy level and both he and his teammates feed off it. His skillset give him the ability to be a Swiss army knife of a player and due to that he could fulfil several roles on any roster while providing a high energy game for his team.
Developmentally going forward, he is the type of player that would in my opinion really benefit by adding mass to his frame (provided he doesn't lose speed if possible) as it would have an exponential effect on his strengths, I'd also like him to portray more deception by thinking shoot/pass in a more balanced manner.
With that in mind although I do not think he has the upside to be a top line center, he could be anything from a complimentary top line winger, to second line center if things work out really well for him, to more realistically a 2nd/3rd line winger or a 3rd line center with a high compete level that is an option on special teams.
IPreferPi
A Nonny Mouse
Steal by Maloney. See lots of Brendan Gallagher in Merkley. Has enough talent to be a 2nd line playmaking forward but is tenacious.
I like it, this is the kinda high reward pick that lets you find diamonds in the rough. Might not turn out, but it's pick #30, at this point you draft for what you hope they can become
Matias Maccete
Chopping up defenses
- Sep 21, 2014
- 9,738
- 3,681
Same guy who made the strome highlight vid with Judas Priest. I like his taste in music, and the yotes like the guys he makes vids of haha.
Harkins is two inches taller and eight pounds lighter. Not worried about him. Fearless.
Bonsai Tree
Turning a new leaf
- Feb 2, 2014
- 9,358
- 4,771
Matias Maccete
Chopping up defenses
- Sep 21, 2014
- 9,738
- 3,681
letowskie
Registered User
Tad Mikowski
Hail to the King Baby
Tad Mikowski
Hail to the King Baby
I think Merkley will be a winger if he makes it to the NHL. From my viewings, Ryan Macinnis has a really good chance of becoming a good center in the NHL
IPreferPi
A Nonny Mouse
I think Merkley will shift to wing in the NHL. But if he develops, he can be a versatile Bryan Little-esque player combined with tenaciousness.
Tad Mikowski
Hail to the King Baby
Mosby
Registered User
- Feb 16, 2012
- 24,167
- 19,886
The Many Stages of Kyle Turris
- 3ov: Turris
- Turris for Rundblad + 2nd
- 2nd for Vermette (Rundblad + Vermette)
- Rundblad for 2nd (2nd + Vermette)
- 2nd: Dvorak (Dvorak + Vermette)
- Vermette for Dahlbeck + 1st (Dvorak + Dahlbeck + 1st)
- 1st: Merkley (Dvorak + Dahlbeck + Merkley)
- 3ov: Turris
- Turris for Rundblad + 2nd
- 2nd for Vermette (Rundblad + Vermette)
- Rundblad for 2nd (2nd + Vermette)
- 2nd: Dvorak (Dvorak + Vermette)
- Vermette for Dahlbeck + 1st (Dvorak + Dahlbeck + 1st)
- 1st: Merkley (Dvorak + Dahlbeck + Merkley)
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
Uniforms are good. Strome pick was great. Merkley pick was phenomenal. I'm over the moon. Ecstatic.
letowskie
Registered User
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