An offensive defenseman in every sense of the word, Ryan Merkely's robust skating game and playmaking ability from the back end make him an intriguing NHL prospect on the surface.
There is no questioning Merkley's ability to dictate the pace of play with an attacking mentality. He can shift gears when carrying the puck, opting to use shoulder fakes to gain extra space to motor through the neutral zone and establish offensive-zone possession time. While he does a nice job getting low, hard point shots through to the net, he's not at all shy about abandoning his post to jump into a seam and fire quick wristers from closer range.
The offensive sizzle saw Merkey place second on the Guelph Storm in points with 13 goals and 54 helpers in 63 games played.
Among junior hockey defenders, Merkley stands out as a potent power-play quarterback, adding constant motion and slinging passes all over the zone to create chance after chance. Just over half of his 67 points this past season came with the man advantage, including an Ontario Hockey League-best 32 power-play assists, which also ranked fifth among all CHL skaters.
Where scouts want to see him improve is in his core defensive duties. At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Merkley can get overpowered down low while also showing a propensity to make poor decisions. Coaches will want to focus on his positioning and gap control to keep his man in front of him so he can do less chasing, and as a result, commit fewer stick infractions.
On top of the need for defensive refinements, Merkely's attitude and ability to succeed to in a team environment have come into question as he's risen through the ranks. Issues with coaches and agents have been documented, so any team investing in his talent will ultimately be betting on him maturing as a human being.
There is no doubt that Merkley possesses first-round talent. If he is able to address concerns about his character in his Combine interviews, he should hear his name called on Friday, June 22.
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For more on all the youngsters in the Sabres pipeline, check out Kris Baker's website, SabresProspects.com. You can also follow him on Twitter (@SabresProspects).
