Merkley has what Petes need, coach says after trade
Offensive defenceman will come in handy on power play: Wilson
Rob Wilson thinks Ryan Merkley is the medicine to cure the Peterborough Petes' ailing power play.
The Petes' power play has languished near the bottom of the OHL all season, sitting 20th overall until recently passing the Flint Firebirds to 19th.
On Friday the Petes acquired Merkley, the OHL’s top-scoring defenceman and 2016 first-overall draft pick, from the Guelph Storm in exchange for Pavel Gogolev and potentially five draft picks.
Merkley, a first-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks in June, has five goals, 34 assists and 39 points in 28 games. It’s more than any other Petes player.
“He’s an elite offensive defenceman and we know we’ve needed that from the start of the year,” said Wilson. “He’s a twoyear player for us. We’re excited about getting a player of that calibre. There is no question he is a power play defenceman and we know we’ve needed a player like that. He brings 2 1/2 years of experience in our league. He’s been to NHL camps. He’s got Hockey Canada experience. There is a lot to the package.”
The knock on Merkley and the reason he perhaps wasn’t taken higher than 21st overall in the NHL draft is his defensive play. One scout suggested he has an aversion to checking.
Wilson watched a lot of tape on Merkley in advance of the trade.
“He looks very competitive to me,” said Wilson. “We all have knocks against us. I think he’s a very good offensive player and his skillset is needed for our team. Like anybody he has things to work on and his might be the defensive side of the game or it might not be. Those are things I’ll have a better idea on once he’s played 10 or 15 games for us.”
Merkley says he’s worked hard to try to shed that reputation.
“I know that was one of the knocks on me in my draft year and if I wanted to move onto the pros eventually I had to be better in that area,” said Merkley. “I think I’m showing strides. The past two years I went from -41 to -29 and this year I’m +5 so I think I’m doing a better job, for sure. There is room to grow and improve, obviously, but I just take it day by day.
“I’ve talked to guys like (Declan) Chisholm and (Shawn) Spearing and they talk highly of (Wilson) and are happy to have him as a coach. When I talked to him he said he likes to play an offensive style of game and play with the puck. I’m excited for that.”
The deal leaves the Petes with a crowded blue-line. Until Cole Fraser (flu) and Matt McNamara (upper body) were sidelined this week the club was scratching two healthy defencemen each night.
Petes GM Mike Oke said he and Wilson hadn’t really addressed that issue yet. There was an opportunity to get an elite player so they seized it. Oke said he and Wilson will discuss options once the weekend is done.
The OHL trade freeze goes into effect Wednesday through to Dec. 27. The OHL trade deadline is Jan. 10.
“Ryan is known as a very strong puck mover,” said Oke. “He has very good vision. He has an ability to find the open man and get him the puck. He’s proven it in the past and he’s proving it again this year. I know Rob is excited to have him as part of the power play group,”
Wilson said he’ll sort out his defensive pairings and lines once players return from the Christmas break.
“We’ll have a lot of time to think and talk over the break,” said Wilson. “We’re so banged up right now we need this break. We need to make sure we come back after the break healthy.”
The Petes return from the holiday break Dec. 28 when they visit the Kingston Frontenacs. They host the Mississauga Steelheads on Dec. 29.