Merrill, 29, recorded five assists and 70 blocked shots in 49 games with the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens last season. He was acquired by Montreal from Detroit on April 11, 2021, in exchange for Hayden Verbeek and a fifth round pick (Jack Bar) in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound native of Oklahoma City, Okla., notched 11 hits and 23 blocked shots in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Canadiens.
He owns 66 points (12-54=66), 211 penalty minutes (PIM), 364 hits and 507 blocked shots in 405 career NHL games during eight seasons with New Jersey, Vegas, Detroit and Montreal (2013-21). Merrill has appeared in 29 career Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Golden Knights and Canadiens. The left-shot defenseman made his NHL debut at Minnesota on Nov. 3, 2013, and scored his first NHL goal on Feb. 7, 2014, the game-winning tally in a 2-1 overtime win vs. Edmonton.
He tallied 47 points (11-36=47) and 45 PIM in 82 games during three seasons at the University of Michigan in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (2010-13). Merrill was named to the 2011 CCHA All-Rookie Team and the 2011 CCHA Second All-Star Team as the Wolverines won the CCHA championship. He represented the United States at the 2011 (bronze) and 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship and won back-to-back gold medals at the 2009 and 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Championships. Merrill also played two seasons at the U.S. National Team Development Program (2008-10) and totaled 41 points (8-33=41) in 101 contests.
He was originally selected by the Devils in the second round (38th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
