39 Nicholas Merkley RW

Merkley was assigned to AHL Binghamton on Saturday.

The Devils finally have a healthy crop of forwards, so they're no longer in need of Merkley's services as a depth option up front. The 23-year-old rookie has, however, played well in limited action with the big club this season, picking up three points in five games, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him back on the NHL roster later this campaign.

Merkley was reassigned to New Jersey's taxi squad Friday.

This has become a daily occurrence for Merkley recently. The 23-year-old forward will almost certainly rejoin the active roster ahead of Saturday's matinee matchup with Buffalo.

Merkley was promoted to the active roster Thursday.

Merkley registered a goal and an assist against the Rangers on Tuesday and was always going to be brought back up from the taxi squad ahead of Thursday's clash. The 23-year-old winger figures to slot into a third-line role but could move up the depth chart with another strong performance.

Merkley was loaned to New Jersey's taxi squad Wednesday.

Merkley just picked up a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Rangers, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him added back to the active roster ahead of Thursday's game versus Boston. The 23-year-old rookie has tallied three points through four games this campaign.

Merkley scored his first goal of the season and added an assist in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Rangers.

The 23-year-old was pressed into duty for the short-handed Devils, and he responded with arguably his best game at the NHL level in his brief career. Merkley has a first-round pedigree, going 30th overall to the Coyotes in 2015, and has posted solid scoring numbers in the AHL (39 goals and 108 points in 137 games), but once players like Nico Hischier and Nikita Gusev are cleared through the COVID-19 protocols, he could have a hard time keeping his spot in the New Jersey lineup.

Merkley was activated from the taxi squad Tuesday, Corey Masisak of The Athletic reports.

Merkley is expected to suit up in Tuesday's game against the Rangers. The 23-year-old winger has played seven NHL games for the Devils over the past two seasons, posting three points and 11 shots on net. He's slated to play in the bottom six for now.

Merkley was assigned to the taxi squad Sunday.

Merkley played in three of the last four games, but he never logged more than 12 minutes in a given contest. The 23-year-old won't suit up in Sunday's matchup against the Sabres. In a corresponding move, Jesper Boqvist and Mikhail Maltsev were promoted from the taxi squad.

The Devils promoted Merkley from their taxi squad to their active roster Saturday.

Merkley is expected to skate on New Jersey's third line during Saturday's matinee matchup with Buffalo. The 23-year-old forward has picked up one assist through two games this campaign.

The Devils assigned Merkley to their taxi squad Thursday.

The Devils added Jesper Bratt (COVID-19 protocols) to their active roster in a corresponding move, so they're no longer in need of Merkley's services as a bottom-six option. The 23-year-old forward has picked up one assist in two NHL appearances this season.

Merkley dished out an assist in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Flyers.

Merkley got his first point of the season in his second game. Acquired from Arizona in the Taylor Hall trade last season, Merkley is skating in a bottom-six role with New Jersey but could push further up the lineup if he continues to chip in offensively.

Merkley will be promoted to the active roster from the taxi squad and make his season debut Sunday against the Islanders, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.

Merkley spent most of the 2019-20 campaign in the minors, notching 35 points in 54 AHL appearances, but he also drew into four games with the Devils, picking up one goal and one assist over that span. At this point, it isn't clear what line the 23-year-old will skate on during Sunday's game versus the Isles.

Merkley was waived by the Devils on Monday, Corey Masisak of The Athletic reports.

This move comes a mild surprise, as Merkley was expected to make the team out of camp after registering a goal and an assist in a four-game cup of coffee with New Jersey last season. Acquired from Arizona as part of the return in the Taylor Hall trade last season, Merkley will look to earn a promotion to the NHL with a strong start to his minor-league campaign. The 2015 first-round pick has scored at least 34 points in all three of his AHL seasons, though his rookie totals of 18 goals and 39 points in 38 games at that level still represent Merkley's high-water marks.

Merkley's loan deal with Assat (Finland) has come to an end, and he will head back to North America ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, Corey Masisak of The Athletic reports.

Merkley played in just four NHL games for the Devils last year, recording one goal on eight shots, one assist and nine hits. The 23-year-old center should compete for a roster spot during training camp but may not avoid spending some time in the minors with AHL Belleville. As such, he likely won't have a ton of value outside of deeper dynasty formats.

Merkley signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Devils on Wednesday.

Merkley will begin the 2020-21 campaign with Assat of Finland's Liiga before returning to North America for New Jersey's training camp. The 23-year-old winger spent the majority of the 2019-20 season with the Devils' AHL affiliate, notching 19 points in 28 contesets, but he also made four appearances with the big club, picking up two points over that span. He'll likely have a similar role next season, so don't expect him to be a useful fantasy option.

Merkley was reassigned to AHL Binghamton on Monday.

Merkley registered one goal and one helper during his four-game stint in the NHL. With the Devils potentially still selling pieces off prior to Monday's trade deadline, Merkley could find himself back in the NHL before long, perhaps even in time to suit up versus Detroit on Tuesday.

Merkley (face) will return to the lineup Saturday against the Capitals, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports.

Merkley missed Thursday's win over San Jose due to a facial laceration, but he'll tough it out against Washington. The 22-year-old rookie, who's picked up two points in three games this campaign, is expected to skate on the Devils' third line Saturday.

Merkley (face) was at the game-day skate Thursday but will not be in the lineup versus San Jose, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.

In three games since a mid-February call-up, Merkley has notched one goal, one assist and six shots while averaging 11:26 of ice time. Including Merkley as part of the Taylor Hall deal appears to already be paying dividends for the Devils. Heading into the 2020-21 campaign, the 22-year-old should be a mainstay on the 23-man roster.

Merkley was cut by a high stick and forced to exit Tuesday's game against the Blues, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.

The Blues' Robert Thomas cut Merkley's face with a high stick early in the third period, forcing the 22-year-old winger to go to the locker room for repairs. Merkley had two hits, a shot and two PIM in 10:15 prior to his injury. His status should be addressed prior to Thursday's game against the Sharks. Per Stein, Merkley needed stitches above his eye but seemed to be okay after the game.

Merkley scored a goal on two shots and provided four hits in Sunday's 4-3 shootout win over Columbus.

Merkley knocked home a Kevin Rooney rebound early in the second period for his first NHL goal. The 22-year-old, who was recalled from AHL Binghamton on Thursday, has hit the scoresheet in each of his first three games, providing a goal and two assists. A first-round pick of Arizona in 2015, Merkley could get an extended look with the Devils beginning to move veterans out prior to the trade deadline.

Merkley provided an assist, three shots on goal and two hits in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Hurricanes.

Merkley's debut with the Devils saw him notch his first NHL point, after he was part of the return for Taylor Hall in a December trade. The 22-year-old, a first-round pick of the Coyotes in 2015, has 18 points in 21 appearances with AHL Binghamton this year. He could be on his way back to the minors when Nico Hischier (knee) returns, which could be as soon as Sunday.