Merkley was traded from the Sharks to the Rangers in exchange for Anthony Bitetto on Monday.
This swap of minor-leaguers lands the Rangers a 24-year-old center for a 31-year-old defenseman. Merkley's unlikely to contribute with the big club this season, but he'll shore up the organizational depth down the middle with AHL Hartford.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Sent to AHL
Rotowire
The Sharks reassigned Merkley to AHL San Jose on Friday.
Merkley vacated the NHL roster Wednesday after playing two January games for the Sharks. The 24-year-old has appeared in nine NHL contests this season and has tallied three points while averaging 12:25 of ice time.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Drops to taxi squad
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Merkley was assigned to the taxi squad Wednesday, per CapFriendly.
Merkley has three points, nine hits and seven shots on net in nine games this season. The 24-year-old will remain on hand as a depth forward while serving on the taxi squad.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Suiting up Saturday
Rotowire
Merkley was recalled from the taxi squad for Saturday's tilt with the Flyers, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
Merkley has three points through seven NHL games this season. He'll suit up with the Sharks for the first time since Nov. 13.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Back to taxi squad
Rotowire
Merkley was reassigned to San Jose's taxi squad Saturday.
Merkley will likely return to the active roster sooner rather than later. He's picked up three points through seven NHL appearances this season.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Back to taxi squad
Rotowire
Merkley was reassigned to the taxi squad Wednesday, per CapFriendly.
Merkley could ultimately end up shuffling to and from the taxi squad frequently from now until the All-Star break. The 24-year-old has three points in seven games this season.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Expected to play
Rotowire
Merkley is expected to be promoted to the Sharks' active roster and play in Tuesday night's game against Arizona, Sheng Peng of SanJoseHockeyNow.com reports.
Merkley is expected to skate on San Jose's third line and second power-play unit versus the Coyotes. The 24-year-old forward has picked up three points through seven top-level appearances this season.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Jumps up to taxi squad
Rotowire
Merkley was recalled to the Sharks' taxi squad Monday.
Merkley has logged seven games for San Jose this season in which he garnered one goal, two assists and seven hits while averaging 12:46 of ice time. The 24-year-old Calgary native will be hard-pressed to break into the lineup with any consistency, making him a relative non-factor in fantasy contests moving forward.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Returned to AHL
Rotowire
Merkley was reassigned to AHL San Jose on Friday.
Merkley went on a modest three-game point streak with the Sharks before going scoreless over his next three, so the team has decided to send him back to the Barracuda. He's chipped in five points in four games in the AHL thus far this year.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: On modest three-game point streak
Rotowire
Merkley logged an assist in Saturday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Devils.
Merkley has notched a goal and two assists in four games since he entered the lineup. The 24-year-old saw 13:42 of ice time Saturday. Merkley's spot in the lineup is not guaranteed once Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc return from the league's COVID-19 protocols, but he's shown enough offense to at least retain a bottom-six job.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Scores in Thursday's loss
Rotowire
Merkley scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Blues.
Merkley gave the Sharks a 3-2 lead in the second period, but that was it for their offense Thursday. The Alberta native has produced two points, five shots on net and a minus-1 rating through three games while serving in a bottom-six role. He's making a good case to stay on the roster even after the Sharks get some players out of the league's COVID-19 protocols.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Draws assist Tuesday
Rotowire
Merkley produced an assist and two shots on goal in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Sabres.
Merkley earned his first point of the season in his second game. The Canadian forward put up 10 points in 27 contests with the Devils last year, but he started 2021-22 with AHL San Jose before he was called up Saturday with the Sharks losing multiple players to the league's COVID-19 protocols. Merkley will have a chance to audition for a larger role while he's with the big club, although he's unlikely to see more than bottom-six minutes.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Ascends to NHL roster
Rotowire
Merkley was recalled by the Sharks on Saturday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
The Sharks are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, so Merkley is expected to slot into the lineup immediately for Saturday's game against the Jets. The 24-year-old forward picked up two goals and 10 points through 27 NHL appearances last season.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Placed on waivers
Rotowire
Merkley was waived by the Sharks on Friday, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports.
Merkley spent 27 games with the Devils last season, tallying 10 points and averaging 11:30 of ice time through 27 games. He'll likely split time between the AHL and NHL levels this season.
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Sharks' Nicholas Merkley: Gets deal done with San Jose
Rotowire
Merkley signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Sharks on Wednesday, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports.
Merkley was not qualified by the Sharks, but they were able to work out a league-minimum deal. The 24-year-old forward had a respectable 10 points in 27 contests with the Devils last year, and he could compete for a bottom-six role with the Sharks in 2021-22.
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Nicholas Merkley: Not qualified by Sharks
Rotowire
Merkley will become a free agent after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Sharks on Monday, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports.
Merkley was just acquired from the Devils on Monday and Kurz reported that the Sharks are still expected to sign him to a deal before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. He scored 10 points and racked up 28 hits in 27 NHL games last season.
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Devils' Nicholas Merkley: Two points despite limited TOI
Rotowire
Merkley dished out two assists -- one on the power play -- in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Penguins.
Merkley skated just 8:53 in total and a mere 17 seconds on the power play, but he made the most of his limited opportunities. Though he's still a work in progress defensively and away from the puck, the 23-year-old winger can make things happen in the offensive zone. Merkley has nine points in 20 games this season, which is impressive given his limited role on the offensively challenged Devils.
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Devils' Nicholas Merkley: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Merkley was promoted to the active roster for Tuesday's game versus the Rangers, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Merkley is back in the lineup after missing Sunday's loss to the Penguins. The 23-year-old has averaged roughly 12 minutes per game this season, posting two goals and four assists across 15 contests.
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Devils' Nicholas Merkley: Dropped to taxi squad
Rotowire
Merkley was sent to the taxi squad Sunday, CapFriendly reports.
Merkley was waived Wednesday but still skated in the last two games with New Jersey. He's tallied six points in 15 NHL games this season.
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Devils' Nicholas Merkley: Placed on waivers
Rotowire
Merkley was waived by New Jersey on Wednesday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Merkley could remain on the active roster if he passes through waivers unclaimed. The 2015 first-round pick has tallied six points in 13 NHL appearances this season.
