Russian, elite prospect, strong body, had chemistry with Kovy, won gold at the WJC, should be a good fit,... is that a serious question?
Well yeah, I'd love to have Tarasenko or Eberle or any other young stud with a ceilling that looks rock solid but we aren't being realistic here.
John Merrill isn't anywhere near the talent level of a Tarasenko and those who think that he is are either hyping Merrill like there's no tomorrow or lowballing Taransenko... one or the other.
I think it's worth seeing what Merrill can do at the AHL level first before we make any decisions on his future. I understand the idea though, St Louis got a great deal in Tarasenko.
He's a stud, so I don't know why the Blues would move him other then to land a big piece for a cup run. I used Tarasenko to justify a prospect for prospect type deal, not because Merrill is on the same level as him.
I just don't see Merrill as being all that important. It might just be me, IDK, but I see Paul Martin 2.0 when I look at him play.
Paul Martin was a very, very good player when he was here.
Paul Martin was a very, very good player when he was here.
I never said otherwise but he wasn't a stud either.
He's a solid 2nd pairing d-men and that's what I see in Merrill, wich is ok, but certain posters make it sound like we have a legit #1 on our hands and we shouldn't part of his services, only if we are able to rob the other team blind.
He's a safe bet to be a 2nd pair guy but he also has #1 D-man potential. I'd rather hold on to him.
I'm not saying that we should move him for hot garbage, I'm just saying that if we can flip prospects and land a solid forward... I'd be more then ok with it, that's all.
I'm not saying that we should move him for hot garbage, I'm just saying that if we can flip prospects and land a solid forward... I'd be more then ok with it, that's all.
Just out of curiosity, what would be an example of a prospect you would like in return?
I just don't see Merrill as being all that important. It might just be me, IDK, but I see Paul Martin 2.0 when I look at him play.
In all fairness I think Merrill has higher potential than Martin 2.0. It's the subtle parts to his game that I think make him better. He's positionally better as a defender, is more capable of using his size to bump opponents off of plays (he'll never be a a big hitter, though), and his outlet passing ability is fantastic.
I think Martin 2.0 would be the low end of Merrill's potential.
Not going to happen, since we're forfeiting the 2014 pick. Can you just imagine if we have the #1 overall pick in 2014, basically McDavid, only to forfeit our pick and hand him to the 2nd overall pick... THE RANGERS !!!!
Not going to happen, since we're forfeiting the 2014 pick. Can you just imagine if we have the #1 overall pick in 2014, basically McDavid, only to forfeit our pick and hand him to the 2nd overall pick... THE RANGERS !!!!
Merrill has a significantly better offensive game than Martin did, and is his equal in basically every other way. Frankly, he's got what it takes to be an ideal NHL defenseman.
(Martin was a great, great defenseman in New Jersey too, don't forget.)
I don't think the Martin comparisons are that far off base. The big difference will be on the power play. Right now I'm under the impression that the Devils' brass projects him to be productive with the man advantage.
Merrill already has a better shot and better vision/patience in the O-zone than Martin. Martin was great in the D-zone and the breakout, but the offensive zone was not his strong suit. That's why I have more hope in Merrill as a prospect. If he had only league-average defense, he'd still be a valuable prospect as an offensive dman. And yet, he's a big body with excellent defensive and neutral-zone play.
I understand the Paul Martin comparison, but I think we have a whole lot of reasons to be really high on Merrill, or at least in the hockey tools he possesses.
I don't see Merrill being moved. When you have extreme depth, you don't trade the premier piece. You trade the next tier, like Urbom, Gelinas, etc.
Agreed, and out of our stable of defensive prospects, I think Urbom has the "best" combination of name recognition and talent and expendability to be traded.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DevilsJunkie
I don't think the Martin comparisons are that far off base. The big difference will be on the power play. Right now I'm under the impression that the Devils' brass projects him to be productive with the man advantage.
Defensively, they are similar. Both positional defencemen with smooth skating strides, maybe Merrill is a bit bigger.
Offensively, Merrill is far superior. I agree that he will be good on the PP once he gets to NJ. Very good puck distributer from the back end.
