Sounds like he can't play in juniors so might be his only option to make the team.

Interesting for sure. Maybe time on the cuda could help him but is he even able to play on the cuda? (Contractually)

No, I was reading he cant play for the Cuda. Dont remember the exact logistics behind it. Sounds like he might get shipped to Europe though if he doesnt make the Sharks out of camp.

I’m gonna assume it has to do with his junior contract that’s why I was asking. Idk I wouldn’t want him to make the lineup tho, unless like he legit has do (like he’s just impressing to much) but I’d rather him cook in the oven another year and let him loose next year

Ryan Merkley has been known to be sort of a cancer so to speak. I've watched him live before, with his great offensive upside comes his terrible attitude towards players and coaches, constantly blaming others and giving up on plays in the defensive end. He was reportedly told by his junior team to not show up to camp because what happened last year with all this. Since he is not 20 (the age the CHL and NHL have agreed upon entering the AHL) he will spend either this season or next playing for an independent league or a league in Europe depending on if he will land on a new OHL (many gm's in the OHL hate him). Don't get me wrong kid is very good and if anyone can fix attitude issues its the sharks with locker room guys such as Joe, Couture, and Karlsson. I would be cautious in rushing him into the NHL because he may get mad if he doesn't see results immediately.

Sorry for the long post hope this helps.

Technically no b/c of the NHL and juniors contract. BUT I wonder what happens if no team wants them to play for him. Maybe there's a loop hole where the CHL releases him then he could go to AHL.

Oh yeah I’ve heard all the news on Merkley but didn’t know about that AHL clause of age, if that’s the case than yeah idk if he’ll get a junior team to take him. In the NHL tho you can’t act the way he does and I think he personally has left the Juniors and etc behind because he thinks/ wants to be in nhl. So maybe he’ll turnaround in the NHL or the dressing room will make him. But supposedly he got along really well with the sharks when he played with them before. Especially burns. But this is all supposedly and at the end of the day probably made a bigger deal by the media than it is and so we can’t tell if he’s good with our room until he’s actually here. So for now we just gotta hope he turns his attitude into something somewhat proper.

Otherwise that will be what breaks him if anything because his talent is there

Oh 100%...sharks are a pretty likable group of guys (coming from a hawks fan). here is a video by an amateur YouTuber just trying to put together the pieces he is really not the best but he puts the narrative together very well. Cheers brother

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-W9AKnvwRc