Merkley, 23, is currently playing for Ässät in Liiga (Finland) where he has two goals and two assists in seven games. He will rejoin the Devils prior to the start of 2020-21 training camp. The 5'10", 195lb. right-shot winger was acquired by New Jersey on December 16, 2019 from Arizona and made his Devils debut on February 14, 2020 against Carolina where he recorded his first career NHL point with an assist. Merkley finished 2019-20 recording his first career NHL goal and one assist in four games played for New Jersey. He scored eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 28 games with Binghamton (AHL) following the trade, having tallied three goals and 13 assists in 26 contests with Tucson. The Calgary, Alta. native was Arizona's first-round selection, 30th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Born May 23, 1997, Merkley scored 39 goals and 69 assists for 108 points in 137 games played in his AHL career and was named a 2017-18 AHL All-Star. From 2012-2017, Merkley played his junior hockey for Kelowna where he finished with 85 goals and 174 assists for 259 points. He led the Rockets in scoring during the 2014-15 season with 90 points (20G-70A) in 72 games played. Merkley played alongside Devils blue-liner Damon Severson and forward prospect Nolan Foote in his time with Kelowna.
