This season, Bitetto has appeared in 39 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League, posting 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) and 26 penalty minutes in 39 games. He ranks second among team defensemen in goals and third in both assists and points.
Bitetto has appeared in 197 NHL games with Nashville, Minnesota, Winnipeg, and the Rangers, posting 31 points (three goals, 28 assists) and 142 penalty minutes.
The six-foot-one, 210-pound native of Island Park, NY was originally selected by Nashville in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
Merkley played in nine games with San Jose this season, collecting three points (one goal, two assists). With the San Jose Barracuda, he appeared in 43 games, posting 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists).
He was acquired by San Jose on July 26, 2021 from New Jersey in exchange for defenseman Christian Jaros.
