Julien Gauthier Recalled By Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes look ready to give one of their top prospects a chance at the NHL level. Julien Gauthier has been recalled and could potentially make his debut on Friday against the New York Islanders.
Gauthier, 21, was selected 21st overall in 2016 by the Hurricanes and has slowly developed into the goal-scoring power forward they envisioned. Standing 6’4″ the former QMJHL standout was impressive in the preseason with Carolina and has already scored twice in two games for the Charlotte Checkers. That’s picking up just where he left off last season when he potted 27 goals for the AHL club.
Interestingly, Gauthier’s name has come up a few times in the summer as a potential trade target, likely because of the Hurricanes’ healthy prospect depth. Most notably he was apparently included in Jesse Puljujarvi talks with the Edmonton Oilers, though obviously nothing materialized yet on that front. Carolina is off to a perfect 4-0 start this season and have had no trouble scoring goals, meaning Gauthier will have to pull his weight if he does get into any game action.
New York Rangers Agree To Terms With Matthew Robertson
The New York Rangers will be signing another one of their top prospects, as the team announced they’ve agreed to terms with Matthew Robertson. The 18-year old defenseman will sign a three-year entry-level contract, though it actually won’t kick in right away. Robertson is playing with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, meaning his contract will slide at least one year.
Selected 49th overall in June, Robertson joins a wave of prospects set to turn the Rangers into contenders sooner or later. The 6’4″ defenseman put up 41 points in 68 total games with the Oil Kings last season and is was a strong force at both ends of the rink. Part of the Canadian team that won gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup last year, he was actually ranked 26th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and expected by many to push for a selection in the first round. Even without that designation, the Rangers surely consider him a big part of their future and will show it by quickly signing him to an entry-level deal.
The next step for Robertson is to really dominate at the WHL level this year and next, while also lending his talents to Canada’s international contingent once again. Though he may find himself on the outside looking in for this year’s World Junior team as an 18-year old, you can bet he’ll be in contention for a spot after another year of development.
Minor Transactions: 10/06/19
After a loaded Saturday slate, there are just three NHL games on the docket today. However, off-day teams could still use the time to make roster transactions to prepare for the coming week. Meanwhile, minor league and European teams alike continue to tinker with their rosters early in the year. Keep up with all of the action today right here:
- The KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk made a swap of NHL veterans today, announcing the signing of forward Andrej Nestrasil and the release of defenseman Paul Postma. Nestrasil, 28, has had a strange start to the new campaign. The former Carolina Hurricanes forward was somewhat surprisingly not offered a contract extension by the KHL’s Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk this off-season despite two good seasons with the team since leaving the NHL. Without any options, Nestrasil returned home to the Czech Republic and signed with HC Ocelari Trinec just two weeks ago. After only two games with club – and a team-leading four points in those two games – Magnitogorsk came calling with an offer to return to the KHL for at least one more year and Nestrasil took it. His roster spot came at the cost of Postma’s in a way, whose contract was jointly terminated. Postma last played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins in 2017-18 and enjoyed a strong first KHL season with Ak Bars Kazan last year. He signed with Metallurg this summer, but lasted just ten games into his new one-year contract before the two sides apparently agreed to part. While there has been nothing yet to link the two sides, Postma spent much of his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, who are sorely in need of some defensive depth right now and could potentially look into a reunion.
- Another former Bruins defenseman, Chris Casto, is headed overseas. After spending last season on an AHL contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Casto has opted to head to Germany. Grizzlys Wolfsburg of the DEL has announced a one-year deal with the 27-year-old former college standout. Ironically, what prompted the move was a season-ending injury to another past Boston defensive prospect, Ryan Button. Like Button, Casto could never take his well-rounded game to that next level in North America, but could be an impact player in Europe.
- Ben Thomson has found a new home in the AHL. The 26-year-old enforcer has signed a one-year deal with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the team announced. Thomson spent last season on the opposite coast with the San Diego Gulls, but will now head back to tri-state area, where he once suited up for three games with the New Jersey Devils. A fourth-round pick of New Jersey in 2012, Thomson made a name for himself with the AHL Devils as an aggressive checking forward a consistent penalty minutes leader. That role has continued to find him employment at the minor league level, but Thomson is unlikely to get back to the NHL any time soon.
- The jury is still out on who the goalie of the future may be for the Boston Bruins, if any of their current prospects. Dan Vladar has the most history with the organization, while Jeremy Swayman may have the most intrigue as he continues his development at the University of Maine. However, the most likely candidate may be 20-year-old Kyle Keyser, an undrafted signee who finished his junior career off on a high note with a strong OHL season and a World Juniors showing with Team USA. Yet, the Florida native will at least start his first pro season closer to home with the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators. Mark Divver reports that Vladar and free agent third-string Maxime Lagace will begin their seasons with AHL Providence, while the Bruins have reassigned Keyser to Atlanta. It’s not uncommon for young goaltenders, even talented ones, to spend some time in the ECHL for the purpose of consistent starts, but Keyser will certainly be looking to prove he is worth of a look in the AHL right away this season.
- The Ottawa Senators are certainly not lacking in prospect depth and the team seems likely to switch their talented young names in and out of the NHL and AHL lineups early on to ensure equal ice time until they can get a better feel for who belongs in Ottawa full-time. Today, the team has reassigned Drake Batherson and Filip Chlapik to AHL Belleville. They did not announce a corresponding move, meaning the same duo or two other prospects could be called up in the coming days.
- With Evgeny Kuznetsov returning from suspension, the Washington Capitals had some salary cap maneuvering to do. The team has announced that forward Travis Boyd has been placed on waivers for the purpose of reassignment to the AHL’s Hershey Bears. They also announced that rookie defenseman Martin Fehervary has been sent down to Hershey. The 2018 second-round pick performed well in the team’s first three games, but some more seasoning in the minors won’t hurt. As for Boyd, the 26-year-old center is probably safe on the waiver wire, but is more of a risk than last season after recording 20 points in 53 games last season. The team has also “demoted” defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, but it is a paper move expected to be made frequently this season by the Capitals as they look to bank as much cap space as possible while fighting a very tight cap crunch.
2019-20 NCAA Players To Watch
Following their professional and junior counterparts, the college hockey season is about to get underway this weekend. With each passing year, the NCAA’s influence on the world of hockey grows. The NHL boasts more than a few top rookies fresh out of the college ranks this season and many elite prospects still in school in 2018-19 will soon join them. This year’s crop of talent is sticking with the trend, with several players in need of watching:
The Recent Draft Picks
G Spencer Knight, Boston College (FLA): When Knight was selected by the Panthers 13th overall in June, he became the highest selected goaltender this decade after Jack Campbell went No. 11 overall in 2010. Considered the best prospect goalie in an NHL pipeline – at least until Yaroslav Askarov hears his name called next year – Knight is a special prospect and easily a top name to watch in the NCAA. It’s hard to know just how well the USNTDP product will perform right out of the gate for a strong BC squad, and on top of that how long it may take for him to be pro-ready. However, if he can translate his junior game to the college level, Florida will want to test that same progression in the pros sooner rather than later.
F Matthew Boldy, Boston College (MIN): Speaking of the Eagles, they nabbed another top pick in this year’s recruiting class in the dynamic winger Boldy. A rare combination of skill and finesse with size and strength, the Wild landed a gem at No. 12. A teammate of Knights with the USNTDP and now at BC, Boldy stands a better chance of making an immediate impact at the college level. The pairing of his stature and his talent – both above average – should give him a leg up against some older, more experienced NCAA competition. Expect he and fellow first-rounder Alex Newhook (COL) to get off to a hot start.
F Trevor Zegras, Boston University (ANA): Across town, Zegras and six other 2019 NHL Draft selections are set to take the ice for the rival Terriers. Zegras is a dynamic play-maker who few expected to fall to the Ducks at No. 9. Zegras brings a high-energy game in all three zones that his bound to create chances for he and his BU teammates. After losing much of last year’s talent to the pros, the Terriers need Zegras to step into a lead scoring role right away and he is likely up for the task. The USNTDP standout has already showed that he can put up big numbers against tough competition.
D Cam York, University of Michigan (PHI): Rounding out the top four recent draft picks to watch in the NCAA this year is yet another USNTDP product, but the first defenseman on the list. York is a skilled blue liner who sees the ice extremely well for a player his age. His skating allows him to be omnipresent on the ice and an asset in all three zones. Highly-drafted defensemen have excelled at the college level of late, namely Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. The Wolverines hope lightning strikes twice by replacing Hughes with York. Fellow first-round pick John Beecher (BOS) will also be around to help out in Michigan this season.
The Soon-To-Be Draft Picks
F Dylan Holloway, University of Wisconsin: A string of years with at least one top draft prospect coming out of the NCAA came to a screeching halt last year, with the college level having nearly no current players of note in the early rounds. That will change this year, as Holloway begins the season as a consensus top-ten pick in 2020. The polished winger dominated the Alberta Junior Hockey League last year, posting 88 points in just 53 games. He brings a complete arsenal of skill, speed, and aggression, but will need to use his college campaign to work on increasing his positional awareness. If he can replicate his scoring success and improve his hockey IQ, Holloway could enter top five territory next summer.
D Yan Kuznetsov, University of Connecticut: Kuznetsov is not the same caliber player as Holloway, but an exciting talent nonetheless for the Huskies. The Russian defenseman came over to North America last season and made a strong first impression in the USHL. Not one to put up lots of points, Kuznetsov is instead a solid shutdown defender who also moves the puck well. At 6’3”, 200 lbs., Kuznetsov has menacing size for a 17-year-old and isn’t afraid to play a tough game, but is also a smooth skater and an asset in puck possession. While not a flashy prospect, Kuznetsov could surprise with his confidence as a freshman in the NCAA and move up draft boards.
The Soon-To-Be NHLers
F Evan Barratt, Penn State University (CHI): One of the best players at the college level last season, Barratt took a major leap forward in his development. The third-round prospect had a quiet freshman year but exploded for 43 points in just 32 games as a sophomore, among the top five per-game scorers in the NCAA. Barratt’s ability to think the game is matched only by his ability to act on those thoughts. A great play-maker with an eye for creating scoring opportunities, Barratt doesn’t need to be the fastest or strongest player on the ice to make a difference. He seems ready to test his hockey sense at the pro level already and almost certainly will be signing with the Blackhawks after this season. Penn State can enjoy one last season with their star center.
D Ian Mitchell, University of Denver (CHI): Chicago nearly convinced Mitchell to leave school early this summer, but he’ll return to the Pioneers for one last season. A smart, two-way defenseman, Mitchell plays a largely mistake-free game. He contributes on offense, but rarely at the cost of defensive liability and uses his skating to get up and down the ice with ease. He pairs a good shot with a strong outlet pass to both start and finish offensively. A modern-day NHL defenseman in many ways, Mitchell truly plays the position well and will be a regular at the top level in no time.
D Scott Perunovich, University of Minnesota-Duluth (STL): A two-time NCAA champion has to be doing something right. While plenty of talented players have moved on from Duluth over the past two years, Perunovich is still there and still making an impact. A dynamic offensive defenseman, Perunovich is a power play magician and a creative play-maker at even strength as well. A talented puck-mover who doesn’t let his size deter him from jumping into a play and taking battles in tough areas, Perunovich is undoubtedly a fun player to watch. An added benefit of catching some Bulldogs action is fellow blue line prospect Dylan Samberg (WPG), who brings the smash to Perunovich’s dash as an elite NCAA pairing.
F Mitchell Chaffee, University of Massachusetts: At the top of the list among potential NCAA free agents is the sharp-shooting Chaffee. A member of the UMass team that made a run to the NCAA Finals last year, Chaffee was better than a point per game scorer, finishing in the top-20 in goals and points and amassing a top-ten plus/minus rating. Chaffee plays a mature, intelligent game but not without some grit and energy as well. He does whatever it takes to put himself in scoring position. With the Minutemen losing several core players to the pros, look for Chaffee to take on an even bigger role as he tries to establish himself as an NHL-caliber prospect. Bowling Green ace center Max Johnson and veteran North Dakota defenseman Colton Poolman are other potential premier college free agents to watch for.
The University of Wisconsin
Every year there is one team whose NHL pedigree jumps off the page. Sometimes those teams don’t necessary put it all together, but they’re still fun to watch. Wisconsin is that team this year, and frankly it’s not that close even with the influx of talent to the likes of BC, BU, and others. You already heard about Holloway, but take a look at who else is suiting up for the Badgers this year:
F Alex Turcotte (LAK): The highest-drafted player in the NCAA, Turcotte was the No. 5 overall pick by the Kings in June and considered by some to be the most complete player in the draft class. Injuries slowed down his season with the USNTDP last year, but he still accounted for 62 points in just 37 games. A two-way skill set and intelligence, play-making ability and elite offensive instincts, and a competitive, hard-nosed style are just some of the elements to Turcotte’s game that should make him the most talented player in college hockey this season.
F Cole Caufield (MTL): Caufield is coming off a record-setting campaign with the USNTDP. While he spent most of his time skating alongside Jack Hughes, he is more than familiar with Turcotte which should make his adjustment to the NCAA smoother. Caufield’s size can be a liability, but it’s a risk that Wisconsin will gladly take in exchange for his natural goal-scoring ability. Caufield potted 72 goals as part of a 100-point campaign last year that established him as one of the most dangerous shooters in hockey – yes, all of hockey. Caufield works hard, skates fast, and puts himself in a situation to score with great frequency. An electrifying talent, Caufield will almost certainly follow Turcotte to the NHL next season (the Canadiens can hardly wait) but until then the duo should do some damage in the NCAA this year. Unbelievably, fellow USNTDP teammates Owen Lindmark (FLA) and Ryder Donovan (VGK) also join Turcotte and Caufield with the Badgers this year.
D K’Andre Miller (NYR): It doesn’t stop there, either. Wisconsin has top NHL talent on the blue line as well, primarily in first-round defender Miller. A big, strong defender who also has the tools to contribute on offense, Miller is a special player. Considered a raw talent when drafter, Miller immediately showed last year that there was more to his game than just athleticism. Miller plays an instinctual style of hockey, which allows him to excel with defensive positioning as well as awareness of when to jump in on offense. He truly has a presence on the ice and there is still room to improve into an elite prospect, especially with so much ability surrounding him this season. He could very well join the Rangers right away next season if he continues to progress. Look for pair-mate Ty Emberson (ARI) to take a step forward in his own development this year as well.
Simon Holmstrom Assigned To AHL
The New York Islanders appear to have decided what to do with their most recent first-round pick. Simon Holmstrom has been assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL, an impressive assignment for the 18-year old forward. There was debate over whether Holmstrom should start in the AHL right away or return to Sweden, but it appears as though he’ll be staying stateside for the time being.
Selected 23rd overall in June, the young winger never did see much of the highest level of hockey in Sweden like some other top prospects, but still comes with a huge ceiling. Not only does Holmstrom possess high-end offensive ability, but his overall game has been complimented for years as he competes hard at both ends of the rink. Though he played mostly right wing in Sweden, his left-handedness may put him on the other side of the ice in North America. That’s something the Islanders organization will have to decide, while getting him acclimated to the smaller rink and AHL physicality.
There’s still lots of development to go with Holmstrom, but he’ll join a Bridgeport team that is suddenly flush with top prospects. Oliver Wahlstrom, Kieffer Bellows and Otto Koivula lead the young group of forwards up front, which is also set to get Joshua Ho-Sang back after he cleared waivers and was assigned to the AHL. The Islanders have found a lot of success in the NHL of late, but should be excited about the wave of talent coming through. Hopefully Holmstrom can take another step forward and show that he can compete at the AHL level this season.
Ty Smith Returned To WHL
The WHL had already received some impressive prospects back from NHL training camp recently when Bowen Byram and Dylan Cozens were cut last week, but now have another star on the way. New Jersey Devils defenseman Ty Smith has been loaned back to the Spokane Chiefs where he will spend the entire 2019-20 season. Smith was among the final cuts for New Jersey with the NHL season right around the corner.
While Byram may get some more headlines after going fourth overall in this year’s draft, there’s no doubting Smith’s impact in the WHL. In fact, the Spokane captain took home the CHL and WHL Defenseman of the Year awards last season after recording 69 points in 57 games. Amazingly that wasn’t even Smith’s career high in junior, as he has dominated the league for several seasons with his elite skating and playmaking ability.
Not only is this huge news for the Chiefs, but also for Team Canada who will undoubtedly bring Smith back to the World Junior tournament once again. The young defenseman suited up previously and recorded three assists in five games, and could very well be the team’s top option as a 19-year old this time around. Selected 17th overall in 2018, Smith was already close to cracking the Devils lineup and should be considered a real contender for a full-time NHL role in 2020-21.
How California’s College Sports Bill Could Impact Hockey
On Monday, California Senate Bill 206, “SB-206” or the “Fair Pay to Play Act”, was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill will allow collegiate student-athletes in the state of California to profit from the use of their names, images, and likenesses, in opposition to the amateurism policies of the NCAA. SB-206 would also prohibit the NCAA, as well as its member schools and conferences, from taking any punitive action, such as participation bans or scholarship penalties, against a California institution which allows its student-athletes to take advantage of these newfound rights, as well as the student-athletes themselves. The bill would essentially compel California institutions to follow state law by breaking NCAA rules.
While SB-206 still does not allow institutions to directly pay student-athletes, the student-athletes may now profit off of their names, images, and likenesses through individual business or through a third party. Among the previously prohibited activities now permitted by SB-206 are the signing of endorsement contracts, paid autograph signings, paid coaching positions, and personal marketing opportunities. In the negotiation of endorsement contracts, student-athletes will be permitted to use representation, including athletic agents, licensed by the state of California. California schools may also return to licensing the names, images, and likenesses of their student-athletes, such as for the use of video games, with those student-athletes now sharing in the profits.
Among the NCAA’s arguments against the bill is that the advantage now given to institutions in California upsets the “essential element of fairness and equal treatment that forms the bedrock of college sports”, as those institutions and student-athletes now have a unique advantage over every other state in the country that is likely to influence recruiting. While the bill does not allow the NCAA to take punitive action, the state cannot prevent the NCAA from breaking away from California as a whole. The NCAA may not be able to prevent California institutions from play, but they do have the right to dismiss those schools and have already levied that threat against California lawmakers.
So how does all of this impact hockey? As of right now, it doesn’t. There are no NCAA teams – Division I, II, or III – in the state of California. Thus, the added benefit to California student-athletes wouldn’t affect the landscape of college hockey, nor would the NCAA dismissing any California schools. However, SB-206 is just the beginning. Many states have already submitted or are at least considering similar bills regarding the publicity rights of college athletes. Those states include New York and Colorado, which house major Division I hockey programs like Denver, Colorado College, Colgate, Cornell, and Clarkson. The movement to allow student-athletes the right to profit from their name, image, and likeness – a policy that costs the NCAA and the individual schools nothing – is likely to catch on and there will be a widespread impact on hockey at the developmental level.
Among the reasons why the NCAA currently considers the CHL to be a “pro” league, making its members ineligible for collegiate competition, is that they already allow their players to sign endorsement deals and profit from their names, images, and likenesses in other ways. However, Canada is so saturated with junior hockey, including pro teams, that the opportunities for CHL players to find substantial money-making uses for their publicity rights are few and far between. If states begin to follow in California’s footsteps, or if the NCAA itself was to adopt the policy, it would further raise the stakes of the competition between the junior level and college level for hockey’s best young prospects. College players would be allowed to make money off of their success and fame and would likely have more opportunities and more money available to them in the United States. There’s also the possibility that changes to the NCAA policies on publicity right could cause them to re-evaluate their stance on the CHL’s amateur status, possibly allowing former junior athletes to jump to the college ranks. In either scenario, the CHL stands to lose even more participants to the college game if a more modern treatment of amateurism is embraced. There are a number of possible outcomes impacting the game of hockey that could emerge from the further growth of the policies proposed by California.
SB-206 will become operative on January 1, 2023. It is expected to face legal challenge before then, as well as possible federal and NCAA legislative changes that could potentially render the decision moot. In the meantime, with the bill now being signed, the discussion is likely to begin in any states that haven’t already taken steps toward legislation of their own. In all likelihood, it won’t belong before a prominent college hockey state follows suit with changes to student-athlete publicity rights and the conversation will become front and center at many levels of the game.
Minor Transactions: 09/30/19
It’s been the busiest day of training camp from a transactions standpoint, with countless cuts and a waiver wire chock full of talent. NHL teams are making the difficult decisions in preparation for Opening Day. However, some of those moves have repercussions on the rosters of AHL teams as well. On a day that’s not lacking in noteworthy news, don’t forget to keep up with the smaller moves as well:
- Former Colorado Avalanche prospect Mason Geertsen has found a new home in the AHL. The 24-year-old defenseman was not extended a qualifying offer by the Avs this summer, despite coming off a career-high 16-point minor league campaign, but Geertsen managed to impress in camp with the Hartford Wolf Pack. The team announced that Geertsen has signed a one-year AHL contract. At 6’4” and 220 lbs., Geertsen is a dominant force in the defensive end. While he saw an uptick in offensive production last year, the hallmarks of his game will always be solid defense and a heavy, aggressive checking game. The Wolf Pack hope that he can offer peace of mind to both their goalkeepers and young, offensive prospects this season.
- One player who surprising will not suit up for Hartford this season is NHL veteran Connor Brickley. Brickley, who started 14 games for the New York Rangers down the stretch last season, was hoping to stay with the organization. He took a tryout offer with the Wolf Pack, but the team revealed today that he has been released from camp. A reliable two-way option, Brickely has played in 81 NHL games over his five-year pro career and has recorded 21 points. That would seemingly imply that, if handed a full-time role, Brickley could have 20+ point upside. Yet, he remains unemployed even at the AHL level, at least for the time being.
- One player still on an AHL tryout – and could be for a while longer – is Lance Bouma. The experienced NHL forward initially joined the Los Angeles Kings on a PTO in camp, but was reassigned to AHL camp with the Ontario Reign. Fox Sports’ Jon Rosen reports that Bouma is expected to stay in Ontario on a tryout basis for potentially the maximum 25-game stretch. Bouma is still not fully recovered from a major injury that cost him his season in Europe last year, but he seems willing to keep working in hopes of landing a deal with either the Reign or perhaps even the Kings. Bouma is a proven two-way contributor who could be a leader for Ontario in all three zones and in the locker room this season.
Snapshots: Haley, Liljegren, Sheahan
The New York Rangers made their final cuts today but one name was conspicuously absent: Micheal Haley. The veteran tough guy was in training camp on a professional tryout, but appears to have made the club. Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic has heard just that, though no confirmation has yet come from the club as to what the contract would be. Haley needs an NHL deal to be eligible for the roster, but wouldn’t likely be making more than the $700K minimum salary.
With Haley sticking around, the team decided to send down young forwards like Filip Chytil and Vitali Kravtsov, expecting them to get more out of playing big minutes in the AHL. The duo are integral to the Rangers’ future and will get a chance to really dominate lesser competition in the minor leagues for the first part of the season.
- Speaking of top prospects going back to the AHL, Timothy Liljegren‘s time on the NHL roster might not be very long according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, who points out that the young defenseman likely made it past the final cuts for the Toronto Maple Leafs more because of cap mechanisms than performance. Liljegren is still currently on the Toronto roster but looks to need some more seasoning in the minor leagues before making an impact at the NHL level. The 20-year old was selected 17th in 2017 and had 15 points in 43 games for the Marlies last season.
- The Edmonton Oilers have split up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for the time being, putting both at center on different lines with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins taking up the pivot role on the third group. Spreading out that center depth may be in part due to the fact that Riley Sheahan, who was a contender for that third-line center role, is in the concussion protocol and will be out for at least seven to ten days. Sheahan signed a one-year, $900K contract with the Oilers earlier this month after scoring nine goals and 19 points in 82 games last season split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers.
Ryan Merkley Traded To London Knights
After rumors swirled for weeks about where San Jose Sharks prospect Ryan Merkley would play hockey in 2019-20, we finally have an answer. The Peterborough Petes have traded Merkley to the London Knights in the OHL in exchange for a 2024 conditional second or third round pick, and a 2022 third round pick. This is the second time Merkley has been traded in junior hockey, while a reputation for being a tough player to coach has followed him everywhere.
Selected 21st overall in 2018, there are few defensive prospects in the world with as much playmaking skill as Merkley. His ability to create room for himself on the blueline and then find an open teammate through traffic is almost unmatched, and he can use his elusiveness to skate the puck out of trouble in his own end. That play in the defensive zone has been questioned because of a troubling work ethic, but there’s absolutely no doubt that Merkley has all the skill required to be an NHL defenseman.
That’s exactly what the Sharks saw in him and why they already signed Merkley to his entry-level contract last summer. Even with all of the frustration he may have caused coaching staffs over the years, he still has the talent to do almost anything he wants on the ice at the junior level. That’s why it is so surprising to see the incredibly small return that the Knights had to give up. NHL first-round picks don’t get traded for conditional mid-round picks, instead usually grabbing a huge package that would include several top selections.
Still, for Merkley the Knights may be the best place for him right now. The London organization is one of the most stable in the OHL and an NHL breeding ground that has dealt with their fair share of projects over the years. Hopefully the 19-year old will be able to right the ship and fulfill his promise as an elite offensive defenseman. After a solid showing in San Jose training camp, his contract will slide forward again as he plays his final year of junior.