Seravalli: Ryan Merkley requests a trade from the Sharks

[sufferer]

Guy's a headache.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

He is questionable defensively on a very mediocre San Jose AHL team and is not exactly a point producer. At this stage Adam Clendenning looked like the more complete player and they are very comparable types of players.

While Merkley may have some level of potential left and is that "rhd" position so sought after. He does not seem driven enough, effective enough or intelligent enough on the ice to warrant any level of quality return and might be best viewed as a potential waiver wire pick up in the future.

Nailed it.

 

[drw02]

That seems horrible for Detroit unless they really plan on using that cap space.

Merkley is a cocky, jerky, lazy, annoying, bum. He isn't good enough to produce anything above average OFD production and that is only if you discard any idea of a team concept and let him run wild.

Maybe, haven't seen much of Merkley since his draft year but was assuming he's matured a bit since then. Zadina is dropping down depth chart pretty fast atp. I don't see how he gets into the lineup with Bert, Fabbri, and Vrana coming back and Berggren and Soderblom outplaying him. Figured Merkley at least fills a need at RHD

 

[KingsFan7824]

This guy has so much talent but his issue is that he refuses to work on the things that will make him an NHLer. He’s talented enough offensively that he could be a regular third pairing guy despite his defensive shortcomings, but he refuses to improve on this one thing that’s holding him back: glacial decision making. He’s got incredible vision and passing ability, but he’s too slow to make decisions and by the time he does make the pass, defenders are on him.

No one should give up anything if value for him. I’d be thrilled to get a 4th.

Is quicker decision making something you can learn?

 

[Gecklund]

Maybe, haven't seen much of Merkley since his draft year but was assuming he's matured a bit since then. Zadina is dropping down depth chart pretty fast atp. I don't see how he gets into the lineup with Bert, Fabbri, and Vrana coming back and Berggren and Soderblom outplaying him. Figured Merkley at least fills a need at RHD

Merkley has definitely matured. I know in juniors he fought with his team a bit. It really seems like he’s well liked by the team, he just doesn’t offer much in either direction at this point and is just kind of there.

 

[Warh1ppy]

Nailed it.

I had hopes for this kid but after the issues regarding him around his draft year and reputation and his lack of progression; it's just not someone I could see a team that couldn't insulate the hell out of him as a depth player risking the assets for when he'll most likely be released or waived at some point in the near future

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Maybe, haven't seen much of Merkley since his draft year but was assuming he's matured a bit since then. Zadina is dropping down depth chart pretty fast atp. I don't see how he gets into the lineup with Bert, Fabbri, and Vrana coming back and Berggren and Soderblom outplaying him. Figured Merkley at least fills a need at RHD

I get where you're coming from, but I suspect you could flip Zadina for a better RHD.

Off the top of my head, I would take Shattnekirk, Gudas, Bear, Stetcher, Braun, Foote, Stone, Benning, Walker, hell, even Chris Wideman over Merkley. And I'm not particularly high on most of those guys.

 

[IslesNorway]

Weren't there tons of red flags surrounding him before the draft? His stock hasn't risen much since then.

If anything he only gets another reclamation project in return.

 

[Northernhawk]

Ryan Merkley to Chicago for Ian Mitchell straight up

 

[Kcoyote3]

Really thought he would take the job on SJ this year and didn't. Still has horrible decision making, and can't make a simple play to get him out of slow decisions, so he'll just skate directly into a defender's stick and lose the puck. Horrible defensive positioning and bad routes to the puck when trying to cut off attackers. He's a mess.

 

[Gurglesons]

I could see Florida making a push for him fits the player type they bring in on D.

 

[Mrfenn92]

I could see Florida making a push for him fits the player type they bring in on D.

That’s a good destination for him

 

[drw02]

Merkley has definitely matured. I know in juniors he fought with his team a bit. It really seems like he’s well liked by the team, he just doesn’t offer much in either direction at this point and is just kind of there.

Sounds like Zadina, he's just kind of there. I don't think Merkley is the style of defender Yzerman would have much interest in tho.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Poor man’s Tony DeAngelo. Will probably bounce around the league for a few years, maybe ends up a sheltered PP specialist.

 

[Sinbad]

Ryan Merkley to Chicago for Ian Mitchell straight up

As a Hawks fan I say no thanks.

A friends son was with Guelph when Merkley was their first pick, said the kid was a cancer from day one and was widely despised by his teammates. That coupled with the fact that his game hasn’t really progressed since turning pro makes me think the Hawks are better off keeping Mitchell, trading Mitchell to someone else or cutting Mitchell, just keep Merkley away from an organization that is destined to get younger over the next couple of years.

 

[MrHeiskanen]

High upside, small, offensive dman with attitude problems. A first round pedigree has done more harm than good

High upside? lolol

 

[Bond]

I’d send Connor Mackey or Meloche for him and see if Sutter could sort him out

 

[Victor Z]

What about Ryan Merkley for Ty Smith?

Merkley is too young for the Penguins and their genius coach. Needs at least 4 more years in the A.

 

[Breakers]

This the guy that had like 25 teams label him "Do-Not-Draft" on their draft lists

 

[Hobocop]

I’d send Connor Mackey or Meloche for him and see if Sutter could sort him out

Much as I'd like Meloche back, we're the ones who didn't qualify him last offseason, so that'd be an odd-looking move by us.

That would be the sort of player I'd want as a return, though.

 

[Cogburn]

I don't have a prospect I'd want to move for him. What's the expected pick back, if a trade is made in that direction? Or is there role on the on ice team that needs to be filled?

 

[Juxtaposer]

Is quicker decision making something you can learn?

Personally, I think it’s within Merkley’s capability. He truly has next level vision and passing skills; there were times last year with the Sharks that he’d make a pass that had me thinking he was Karlsson until I realized. Someone with that level of talent should be able to make decisions better. But to me, it just seems like Merkley is ignoring the feedback he’s getting and assuming his natural talent will carry him through. Maybe with the right coach (he’s had horrible ones), he could resurrect his career.

I like the idea of trading him for a similar reclamation project, or for mid-round pick.

 

[Pavelski2112]

Merkley is an unfortunate case because he didn't look half bad on last year's Sharks playing with a washed-up Vlasic and was a solid option on the 2nd PP unit. His decision making is still frustrating but this situation just screams "needs a change of scenery". I could see him being a fine #6/7 RHD on another team at some point.

 

[Hockeyskanks]

Bust

 

[Hodge]

Another brilliant pick by Doug Wilson Jr., promoted to scouting director despite zero scouting or pro hockey playing experience because his daddy was the GM.