Columbus Blue Jackets Should Take a Chance on Ryan Merkley
By William Espy
The Columbus Blue Jackets have the 18th overall pick in this years’ NHL Entry Draft.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will have many players available to choose from in this years’ NHL Entry Draft when they take the podium at 18th overall. No player who will likely be available has more offensive upside than Ryan Merkley.
Merkley’s numbers seem more like a winger than a defenseman. He averaged more than a point per game with the OHL’s Guelph Storm this season.
As a right handed shot he would certainly fit into the Blue Jackets game plan. The biggest issue with him is believed to be his defense and character according to TheHockeyWriters. If any team could make this troubled defenseman into a blossoming star it would be the Columbus Blue Jackets coaching staff.
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The next point against Merkley coming to Columbus would be the lack of a first round pick last year, meaning Jarmo Kekalainen and Ville Siren will likely want to make a safer pick to avoid a bust who would make it more like two years straight without a first round pick.
Moving into the Late 1st?
Drafting Merkley at 18th overall might not be the only way the Blue Jackets could get him though. If he were to drop to the late first round, it’s always possible they make a move like they did a few years back to draft Gabriel Carlsson and move up to select him.
It’s highly unlikely that the defenseman who posted a total of 67 points in 62 games with the Guelph Storm last season will fall to the Blue Jackets’ second round pick, however it is possible that he’ll drop to the early second round.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets may face a very difficult decision when they’re forced to decide between a high end talent who could blossom into a superstar or a safe pick who will turn into a middle six forward or top four defenseman.