Hockey's Future: Jon Merrill #2 Defenseman Prospect in NCAA

10 posts / 0 new
Login or register to post comments
Last post
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:38 AM
#1
denverblue
denverblue's picture
Joined: 09/05/2009
MGoPoints: 454
Hockey's Future: Jon Merrill #2 Defenseman Prospect in NCAA

Not much new to see here, but it's nice to see him rated so highly, particularly since he didn't play the first 22 games of the season, as well as considering his company on the list.

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/13758/top10_ncaa_defensemen/

If you don't want to click through, here's the best quote:

Merrill's offensive contributions continue to be significant, but it's his increased focus on the defensive end of the ice that is equally notable here. While he can often be found joining the play, Merrill's decisions in when to do so improves with each game. His solid defensive zone play, particularly in one-on-one situations, is also showing some improvement as well.

EDIT: Lee Moffie and Greg Pateryn are also listed as "Other Notables"

Top
Tags:

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:06 PM | Another year? (Score:1)
UAUM
UAUM's picture
Joined: 11/03/2010
MGoPoints: 862

Am I being naive in hoping that he'll stick around for next year?

Speaking of next year, what are our goalie prospects?

 

Your MGoLawyer in Columbus.  Unabashedly representing the interests of Wolverines all across enemy territory.

February 22nd, 2012 at 12:12 PM | After the suspension this (Score:2 Normal)
mich12fan
mich12fan's picture
Joined: 07/04/2009
MGoPoints: 46

After the suspension this year with him waiting it out, I believe Merrill will stay and that the Devils will want him to stay. 

As far as goalies go, we have Steven Racine coming in and I believe another, check out Yost Built for our entire class' details. That will have more information that I can provide. 

February 22nd, 2012 at 12:35 PM | Merrill (Score:2)
BrownJuggernaut
Joined: 10/02/2010
MGoPoints: 2028

Jared Rutledge is the other.

The Devils will have four defensemen on their roster heading into Free Agency, so I'm not sure. I think the suspension might have helped us to keep him one more year, but I don't know how much longer the Devils can wait. They need defensive help.

February 22nd, 2012 at 12:39 PM | Ironically, (Score:1)
JustGoBlue
Joined: 06/15/2009
MGoPoints: 745

Merill's suspension might have been the best thing for next year's hockey team.  He's still probably more likely to go than stay, but he's far more likely to stay than he was before the suspension (I'd have put the odds at him staying with no suspension at about 0.0000001%).  At this point, Moffie's a flight risk too, but I think he can stay one more season and I think he will, for his senior year.  If they do both stay, imagine the D-corp of:

Merrill-Moffie

Bennett-Trouba

Clare-Serville/Chiasson/Carrick/Hyman Jr.(2012 or 2013)

I could play goalie with those 6 and have the best GAA in the country...  Even if Merrill or Moffie leaves, that's going to be a more than solid rotation.  If they both leave, :(

As for goalies, Racine as mentioned, he's an older OJHL goalie, solid, not really spectacular, but that's kind of Hunwick's profile coming in, too, except in the USHL.  Jared Rutledge is probably the one more expected to be good, short-ish, (though not Hunwick short), he doesn't get the NHL hype because of that, but he's been solid in the NTDP and should be good to very good in college.  Goalies being hard to project and all, we'll leave it at that, but to summarize, goalie the next few years probably won't be the strength it is this year, but shouldn't be a weakness either.

February 22nd, 2012 at 3:14 PM | Goalies are tough to predict (Score:1)
UAUM
UAUM's picture
Joined: 11/03/2010
MGoPoints: 862

But I can sleep sound knowing that we have an NTDP coming in.

/fingers crossed

 

Your MGoLawyer in Columbus.  Unabashedly representing the interests of Wolverines all across enemy territory.

February 22nd, 2012 at 12:22 PM | Honorable mentions (Score:1)
Seth9
Joined: 04/01/2009
MGoPoints: 2297

Greg Pateryn and Lee Moffie were honorable mentions on the list, which ranked 12 prospects.

February 22nd, 2012 at 1:11 PM | Interesting article, but not (Score:2)
BlueAggie
BlueAggie's picture
Joined: 11/17/2008
MGoPoints: 541

Interesting article, but not one that I put a lot of stock in. Clendenning is way too low, Weber barely belongs as an honorable mention, let alone in the top-10. Also where is Nicastro? This was written before the latest chapter in the BU-pocalypse. He should be there somewhere.

M BSE '05, A&M PhD '11
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:43 PM | I thought the suspension (Score:1)
bacon1431
bacon1431's picture
Joined: 07/26/2008
MGoPoints: 2275

I thought the suspension would help him stay another year. But that was before he came back and started playing great (a few games he's been meh). Now I'm not nearly as confident we'll keep him. I think it's a toss-up

Just remember. It's not a lie, if you believe it.

February 22nd, 2012 at 5:16 PM | The Devils know about (Score:1)
mich12fan
mich12fan's picture
Joined: 07/04/2009
MGoPoints: 46

The Devils know about whatever issues he has been having this season, so I think they may want him to stay and mature for another year. Red has worked with him well this year. He also has had a few instances that he needs to work on (see Northern's second goal of Saturday). I think he's going to stay. JMFJ was much further along at this point in his career at Michigan. Also, the players almost always talk with Red before heading out. Usually if he says he thinks they are ready and they want to go, they will leave. I doubt he will tell Merrill he is ready to move on to the next level. 

Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.