Nick Merkley
Nicholas Merkley is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing with the Binghamton Devils in the American Hockey League while under contract to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. Merkley was rated as a top prospect who was widely projected to be a first round selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. In the said Draft, he was selected 30th overall by the Arizona Coyotes, the final pick of the opening round. He played in one game with the Coyotes before being traded to the Devils in 2019.Playing career
Merkley was selected ninth overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft. Following a strong first season with the Rockets, he was selected as the 2013–14 WHL Rookie of the Year and awarded the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, and during the 2014–15 WHL season he was rewarded for his outstanding play when he was selected to skate in the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and was also named to the 2014–15 WHL Second All-Star Team after scoring 20 goals and 90 points in 72 games.
On September 3, 2015, Merkley agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes.
He made his NHL debut on December 19, 2017, against the Florida Panthers. He played 13 minutes 30 seconds of ice time in a 3–2 loss. He was sent back down to the AHL shortly after. On January 4, 2018, Merkley was selected for the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic Game in Utica, New York.
During the 2019–20 season while with the Tucson Roadrunners, Merkley was traded by the Coyotes to the New Jersey Devils in a deal involving star forward Taylor Hall on December 16, 2019.International play
Merkley helped Team Canada capture the gold medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.Career statistics
International
Awards and honours
