Toronto Maple Leafs: Ryan Merkley an intriguing option in the draft
By James Reeve
With the 2018 NHL Draft one week away, Ryan Merkely could be an intriguing option if he is available when the Toronto Maple Leafs make their pick.
There will be many potential targets for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the NHL, and one could be defenceman Ryan Merkley.
The right-handed defenceman currently plays for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League and is ranked between 25th and 45th among North American prospects in this year’s draft class, depending on the scouting service. However, his offensive output could make a team take a chance on him late in the first round.
Merkley was second on his team for total points last season with 67 (13 goals and 54 assists), just one point behind winger Isaac Ratcliffe.
When compared to other defencemen in the CHL, Merkley’s offensive ability far outmatches players who could be taken much earlier in the draft, such as Evan Bouchard.
Ryan Merkley's playmaking is on another level compared to other CHL defenceman prospects. He creates double the scoring chance assists than other top CHL blue line #2018NHLDraft prospects like Bouchard, Addison, Smith, and Beaudin. pic.twitter.com/V5I3h3hYmX
— Mitchell Brown (@MitchLBrown) April 17, 2018
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As far as his playing style, he could be best described as a playmaking offensive defenceman, spending a lot of time in the neutral zone and offensive third, whilst still needing to work on the defensive side of his game.
That’s not to say his defensive play is poor, but his +/- for the Storm, a team that was knocked out of the first round of the OHL playoffs, was -29.
This, unfortunately, led his team last season though only four Guelph players held positive +/- stats, with the Storm relying far more on a high-octane offence to overcome opponents.
Merkley might be seen as a bit of a stretch in the first round of the draft, but he is a player who possesses exceptional offensive capabilities and could fit in very well with a young, offence-heavy team once he is ready for the jump up to the NHL.
Having time to develop with the Toronto Marlies could do wonders for him, with the likes of Travis Dermott and Timothy Liljegren both progressing well during their time in the minors.
Getting in with the Leafs organization, which has exceptionally high standards, could also do much for building his character – something that has apparently come into question prior to the draft.
Ryan Merkley had interviews with 25 teams. I asked how many questioned him about his alleged attitude problems: "25 out of 25." To his credit, Merkley didn't shy away from the conversation
— Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) June 2, 2018
Despite reported concerns about his attitude, Merkley has not been shy when questioned by NHL teams and this should be a positive when considering him as a prospect in this year’s draft.
His offensive talents could lead to him having an impact greater than the likes of Jake Gardiner, though he will still likely take a year or two to develop his defensive qualities.
With the Leafs needing some extra depth in defence, a talented player such as Merkley might be worth taking a gamble on and would certainly have other teams talking about new general manager Kyle Dubas.
Next: Kyle Dubas looking to make a splash in first draft as GM
What do you think Toronto Maple Leafs fans? Would you be interested in seeing Merkley drafted 25th overall? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.