His on ice play has never been the issue and has made him a 1st round NHL pick. So the fact he's a dressing room distraction can be rectified if the 19 other guys basically set it to him straight. If he's allowed to pollute the room..that's when the problems will start. Until then..I think we gotta let the kid play his gameI love the acquisition! Costs very little, adds experience and an offensive weapon on the back end. Comparing Merkley to Timms is like comparing Pat Kane to Stranges...lol. Come on.
So what will be the play that has to happen where we say they “got Merked”? maybe an end to end rush resulting in a goal? Ah, I’m excited. Go Knights go!
Merkley is a similar player to Ryan MURPHY. You get what you get with him as a player. He is a highly offensive dman who is gifted at moving the puck. He is not the strapping physical defender that we still need. He does fill a need though as we had some trouble with moving the puck last two games.Timm's Part Deux.
Except Merkley cannot play defense and is physically overmached.
Just what the LK need another softie.
Snickers heard around the OHL locker rooms.
Just pair him with someone fast like Foudy to recover on defensive mistakes.
Another thing that is worth something is that he's with us and not a competitor in the west.
I'm sure most of you remember Ryan Ellis when he was with Windsor. I was worried every time Ellis got the puck at the point because he had the unusual ability to get pucks through.
He will also draw us penalties so if it comes early in his shift he can still be on the powerplay and improve us there. Just pair him with someone fast like Foudy to recover on defensive mistakes.
Merkley is a similar player to Ryan MURPHY. You get what you get with him as a player. He is a highly offensive dman who is gifted at moving the puck. He is not the strapping physical defender that we still need. He does fill a need though as we had some trouble with moving the puck last two games.
Key point right thereI doubt very much that Dale Hunter will allow Ryan Merkley to check out of his defensive responsibilities.
Key point right there
We used to joke at Kitchener games that Steve Spott must have a picture of Ryan Murphy on his bedside table. It was obvious that Spott had a man crush on Murphy to the point of embarrassment.
Meanwhile, over in London, Dale Hunter sits superstar forward Robbie Schremp when his on ice play didn't jive with the game plan.
Only on the powerplay.Is the suggestion to bring in Merkley and move Foudy to D with him?
If the Knights are going all-in this year, we should also push for Thomas Harley and Ty Dellandrea (Stars fan bias coming in hot).
Dellandrea is obvious, but Harley is nearly making the Stars this year, and Mississauga might only view him as a 1-year player at this point despite his junior eligibility for next season. We have some surplus in talented 17-year-olds that would be good trade chips for them.
I think that this is something you have to be careful with. You don't want players to gain resentment because the message is that they have to adjust their game to make up for someone's defensive mistakes. Accountability will be big. I do genuinely hope that Merkley gets it together though and is getting support off ice for any issues.
will see them receive a third-round draft pick in 2022 and either a second- or third-round pick in 2024 depending on conditions not disclosed.
Key point right there