Jon Merrill

Jon Merrill

32-Year-Old DefensemanD
Minnesota Wild
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Merrill saw fewer minutes and took a step back offensively in his second season with the Wild. After a 20-point campaign in 2021-22, he tallied just 12 points in 73 games last year. His ice time also dropped from 17:06 per game to 15:09. The 31-year-old is expected to hold a similar bottom-four role in Minnesota again this season. Merrill will block his fair share of shots - he racked up 107 last year - but won't provide much fantasy value. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a three-year, $3.6 million contract extension with the Wild in January of 2022.
Grabs two apples in win
DMinnesota Wild
April 13, 2024
Merrill notched two assists in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Sharks.
ANALYSIS
Merrill snapped a 10-game point drought with the primary helper on a Declan Chisholm tally in the first period before assisting on a third-period marker by Marcus Johansson. The 32-year-old Merrill has seen steady playing time lately, but usually in a third-pairing role. He's at 11 points, 41 shots on net, 56 blocked shots, 30 PIM and an even plus-minus rating through 63 appearances this season.
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NHL Stats
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2023 NHL Game Log
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2022 NHL Game Log
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2021 NHL Game Log
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2020 NHL Game Log
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2017 NHL Game Log
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2023–24 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    12:50
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:03
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    0:24
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2021–22
17:06
0:02
1:57
2022–23
15:09
0:04
1:03
2023–24
12:50
0:03
0:24
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Closing in on return
DMinnesota Wild
April 8, 2022
Merrill, who's been on the shelf with an upper-body injury, could return to action Sunday versus the Kings, Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
ANALYSIS
Merrill will miss a fourth consecutive game Friday against the Blues, but he shouldn't be sidelined for much longer. The 30-year-old defender has tallied 18 points through 63 contests this season.
See All NHL Rumors
Past Fantasy Outlooks
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Merrill graduated from a bit part in Vegas to what's expected to be an everyday role in Detroit after signing a one-year contract with the Red Wings this offseason. The 28-year-old blueliner has never topped 15 points in a season, and he only had seven in 49 contests last year. He'll add a veteran presence and a high defensive workrate to the Red Wings' blue line in 2020-21, chipping in well with blocked shots while working in a second-pairing role. However, without standout production in any category, it's safe for fantasy managers to leave him on the board during drafts.
Merrill is neither a mover nor a shaker from a fantasy standpoint, but every NHL team needs that budget defenseman capable of mixing it up on both ends of the ice. The Oklahoman surprisingly opened up his offensive game in 2018-19, with Merrill achieving career highs in goals (three) and points (15), plus he finished third on the team with a serviceable plus-16 rating. With further consideration to his 71 hits and 72 blocked shots, the ex-Devil checks out as a steady, no-frills option, but he still won't be drafted in most leagues since there could be 100-plus blueliners that outpace him in the attacking zone by season's end.
Merrill was selected in the expansion draft by the Golden Knights after being left unprotected by the Devils. While he was a valuable defensemen for Vegas, Merrill managed just three points on the season and dealt with an undisclosed injury. The 26-year-old is mostly known for his play in his own end of the rink and, even then still was a healthy scratch periodically. Considering he's recorded just 39 points in 250 career games, Merrill isn't worth owning in the majority of fantasy settings.
Merrill has been trending in the wrong direction, notching just 11 points in 98 games over his last two seasons with the Devils after racking up 25 in 118 during his first two. Despite that decrease in production and his career minus-41 rating, the Golden Knights decided to take a flier on the 25-year-old blueliner by selecting him in the expansion draft this offseason. Just cracking the lineup will be tough given the glut of defensemen on Vegas’ roster, so don't expect increased production with this change of scenery.
One of several young defensemen who saw action for New Jersey last season, the former University of Michigan star played the most out of the budding blueliners, as he was able to adapt defensively more quickly than teammate Eric Gelinas. Merrill grabbed two goals and 11 points in 52 contests last season while averaged 19:14 of ice time as a rookie. The Devils would like him to contribute more offensively, but he won’t be a liability in his own zone, something the Devils find more valuable. Merrill’s role on the team likely will increase this season, and he’s worth a look in very deep keeper leagues.
Merrill is one of New Jersey's more highly rated defensive prospects but has elected to return to the University of Michigan for his junior season. He turned some heads at the club's prospect development camp in July, but the team's second-round pick from 2010 will wait at least one more year before signing a professional contract with New Jersey.
Merrill, the Devils' second-round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, posted 25 points (7 G, 25 A) in 42 games as a freshman at the University of Michigan last season. He's listed at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, which is good size for a defenseman but he'll have plenty of time to work on his game before stepping onto NHL ice.
More Fantasy News
Lone source of offense in loss
DMinnesota Wild
March 3, 2024
Merrill found the back of the net in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Blues.
ANALYSIS
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Enters lineup, picks up goal
DMinnesota Wild
January 27, 2024
Merrill was credited with a goal on two shots in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Ducks.
ANALYSIS
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Pots first goal of season
DMinnesota Wild
November 20, 2023
Merrill scored a goal on three shots and added a blocked shot and a plus-1 rating in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs.
ANALYSIS
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Grabs assist Thursday
DMinnesota Wild
October 27, 2023
Merrill recorded an assist in Thursday's 6-2 defeat to the Flyers.
ANALYSIS
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Returning Sunday
DMinnesota Wild
February 26, 2023
Merrill (illness) will rejoin the Wild for Sunday's matchup with the Blue Jackets, per Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
ANALYSIS
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