Eliteprospects
Canada Nick Merkley
#10 Shanghai Dragons / KHL - 25/26
1-time Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal 1
1-time U17 WHC Silver Medal 1
1-time AEHL U15 Most Valuable Player 1
1-time WHL (West) Second All-Star Team 1
1-time WHL Champion 1
1-time WHL Rookie of the Year (Jim Piggott Trophy) 1
Date of Birth
May 23, 1997
Position
RW/C
Age
28
Height
5'10" / 178 cm
Place of Birth
Calgary, AB, CAN
Weight
194 lbs / 88 kg
Nation
Canada
Shoots
R
Youth Team
Lake Bonavista MHA
Contract
25/26
Drafted
2015 round 1 #30 overall by Arizona Coyotes
Agency
PREMIUM

A playmaking center that has an excellent eye for the game; sees the ice like a hawk from above. Creates scoring chances and on-ice energy through taking advantage of puck-possession and making the most of turnovers. Incredible work ethic; will battle against larger players and isn't afraid to do the dirty work in front of the net. Does not possess the largest frame or a dynamic level of skating; however, he does boast a remarkably high level of Hockey-IQ and a deep understanding of the game. There is something left to be desired having observed his individual skills, such as puckhandling, footspeed, and decision-making, for a prolonged period of time; there is definitely room for improvement in the small areas of his game. All-in-all, Merkley brings a medley of skill, smarts, and work ethic to the table, making him an invaluable asset as a Center. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014)

Brother: Jay Merkley

© Photo: Anton Vymotov

Use/Embed statistics

Nick Merkley Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2010-11 Calgary Bisons U15 AAA AMBHL 31* 16* 18* 34* 20* -* |
2011-12 Calgary Bisons U15 AAA AMBHL 32* 41* 32* 73* 42* -* | Playoffs 9 9 4 13 14 -
2012-13 Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA AMHL 30* 14* 19* 33* 95* -* | Playoffs 11 4 6 10 16 -
Kelowna Rockets WHL 1* 0* 0* 0* 0* 0* | Playoffs 7 0 3 3 0 -2
2013-14 Kelowna Rockets WHL 66* 25* 33* 58* 46* 24* | Playoffs 14 4 13 17 12 5
Canada Pacific U17 “A” WHC-17 6* 2* 3* 5* 14* -* |
2014-15 Kelowna Rockets WHL 72* 20* 70* 90* 79* 29* | Playoffs 19 5 22 27 18 12
2015-16 Kelowna Rockets WHL 43* 17* 31* 48* 44* 9* |
2016-17 Kelowna Rockets “A” WHL 63* 23* 40* 63* 73* 22* | Playoffs 17 6 13 19 22 10
2017-18 Arizona Coyotes NHL 1* 0* 0* 0* 2* 0* |
Tucson Roadrunners AHL 38* 18* 21* 39* 22* 6* |
2018-19 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 45* 10* 24* 34* 26* -2* |
2019-20 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 26* 3* 13* 16* 10* -3* |
New Jersey Devils NHL 4* 1* 1* 2* 2* 0* |
Binghamton Devils AHL 28* 8* 11* 19* 16* -1* |
2020-21 Ässät Liiga 19* 4* 9* 13* 33* 2* |
New Jersey Devils NHL 27* 2* 8* 10* 7* -5* |
Binghamton Devils AHL 5* 1* 2* 3* 4* -3* |
2021-22 San Jose Sharks NHL 9* 1* 2* 3* 0* -2* |
San Jose Barracuda AHL 43* 11* 25* 36* 28* -11* |
Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 16* 5* 5* 10* 10* -3* |
2022-23 Dinamo Minsk KHL 67* 20* 20* 40* 88* 1* | Playoffs 5 1 2 3 28 1
2023-24 Dinamo Minsk KHL 65* 16* 16* 32* 55* 3* | Playoffs 6 3 1 4 6 1
2024-25 Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg KHL 59* 11* 9* 20* 40* 5* | Playoffs 7 1 1 2 2 -2
2025-26 Shanghai Dragons KHL 38* 15* 14* 29* 35* -5* |
Projected KHL 68* 27* 25* 52* 63* -9* |

Nick Merkley Tournament Statistics

S Team League GP G A TP PIM +/-   POST GP G A TP PIM +/-
2006-07 Team Brick Alberta Brick Invitational -* -* -* -* -* -* |
2011-12 Calgary Bisons U15 AAA John Reid Memorial 5* 6* 4* 10* 12* -* |
Team Calgary South “C” Alberta Cup 5* 5* 3* 8* 4* -* |
2012-13 Team Alberta WCCC-16 3* 1* 6* 7* -* -* |
2014-15 Kelowna Rockets Memorial Cup 5* 3* 2* 5* 14* 1* |
Team White U18-Dev 3* 0* 1* 1* 6* -* |
Canada U18 “A” Ivan Hlinka Memorial 5* 0* 4* 4* 8* 9* |
2015-16 WHL All-Stars “A” Jr Super Series 2* 0* 0* 0* 0* -1* |
2016-17 WHL All-Stars “A” Jr Super Series 2* 0* 3* 3* 0* 0* |

Nick Merkley Career Totals

League Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/- | Years GP G A TP PPG PIM +/-
AMBHL (AEHL U15) 2 63* 57* 50* 107* 1.70* 62* -* | 1 9 9 * 4 * 13 * 1.44 * 14 * - *
AMHL (AEHL U18) 1 30* 14* 19* 33* 1.10* 95* -* | 1 11 4 * 6 * 10 * 0.91 * 16 * - *
AHL 5 201* 56* 101* 157* 0.78* 116* -17* | 0 * * * * * *
Alberta Cup 1 5* 5* 3* 8* 1.60* 4* -* | 0 * * * * * *
Brick Invitational 1 -* -* -* -* -* -* -* | 0 * * * * * *
Ivan Hlinka Memorial (Hlinka Gretzky Cup) 1 5* 0* 4* 4* 0.80* 8* 9* | 0 * * * * * *
John Reid Memorial 1 5* 6* 4* 10* 2.00* 12* -* | 0 * * * * * *
Jr Super Series 2 4* 0* 3* 3* 0.75* 0* -1* | 0 * * * * * *
KHL 4 229* 62* 59* 121* 0.53* 218* 4* | 3 18 5 * 4 * 9 * 0.50 * 36 * 0 *
Liiga 1 19* 4* 9* 13* 0.68* 33* 2* | 0 * * * * * *
Memorial Cup 1 5* 3* 2* 5* 1.00* 14* 1* | 0 * * * * * *
NHL 4 41* 4* 11* 15* 0.37* 11* -7* | 0 * * * * * *
U18-Dev 1 3* 0* 1* 1* 0.33* 6* -* | 0 * * * * * *
WCCC-16 1 3* 1* 6* 7* 2.33* -* -* | 0 * * * * * *
WHC-17 1 6* 2* 3* 5* 0.83* 14* -* | 0 * * * * * *
WHL 5 245* 85* 174* 259* 1.06* 242* 84* | 4 57 15 * 51 * 66 * 1.16 * 52 * 25 *

Nick Merkley Career Highlights

Season
Awards by season
Transactions
DATE STATUS FROM TO SOURCE
08/16/2025
08/16/2025 Confirmed Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg Shanghai Dragons
08/04/2025
08/04/2025 Confirmed Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg Unknown
07/08/2024
07/08/2024 Confirmed Dinamo Minsk Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
07/07/2023
07/07/2023 Extension Dinamo Minsk Dinamo Minsk
08/01/2022
08/01/2022 Confirmed Hartford Wolf Pack Dinamo Minsk
03/21/2022
03/21/2022 Confirmed San Jose Sharks New York Rangers
07/28/2021
07/28/2021 Extension San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks
07/26/2021
07/26/2021 Confirmed New Jersey Devils San Jose Sharks
10/21/2020
10/21/2020 Extension New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils
08/27/2020
08/27/2020 Confirmed Binghamton Devils Ässät
12/16/2019
12/16/2019 Confirmed Arizona Coyotes New Jersey Devils
09/03/2015
09/03/2015 Confirmed Kelowna Rockets Arizona Coyotes
Player Biography and Trivia

Drafted 2012, 1 #9 overall by Kelowna Rockets in the WHL Prospects Draft

2015 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #17 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS

2015 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #15 by MCKEEN'S HOCKEY

2015 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #23 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters

2015 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #17 by TSN/McKenzie

Cult/Star player for Kelowna Rockets