If he keeps making plays like we have seen of late, maybe he doesn't need to be an "energy" player?
Now I think all NHL players need to be energy players to some degree, Nico brings it, Bratt at his best brings it, I think Hughes brings it. The lack of it, imo has held Zacha back. So Merk like everyone else needs to bring it.
But was Merk a guy who was always viewed of as an "energy" guy? Look at his draft year, 70 assists in 72 games. His first year in the AHL, he was a ppg player. The resume says he was, at one point, a skills guy.