Report: Jon Merrill signs with the New Jersey Devils

By Michael Caples –

TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie tweeted this morning that Michigan defenseman Jon Merrill has decided to forego his senior season with the Wolverines, and sign with the New Jersey Devils.

Merrill, currently a junior with the Wolverines, was a second-round pick (38^th overall) of the Devils in 2010.

Yesterday during his season wrap-up press conference, Michigan coach Red Berenson was asked about the possibility of both Merrill and freshman defenseman Jacob Trouba – a Winnipeg first-round pick in last summer’s NHL Draft – leaving school early. Here’s what he had to say:

I think it’s Jonny’s call right now with Jersey. I’m leaning towards it’s going to be time for Jonny to move. I think they’ve been really patient, they could have signed him after his first year. Second year he could have left with all the problems, and the third year he had a broken vertebrae, it was tough. I think on one side the kid wanted to come back and finish, but on the other side, is excited about the next step.

Jacob, we’ll have to wait and see how that works out. I’ve told kids like him in the past, that if they’re ready to play in the NHL, I’ll drive them to the airport. I’m not supporting kids leaving early to play in the minors, obviously. And then you’d like to have a back-up plan to come back to school. I know that if Jonny leaves, he’ll definitely have a back-up plan to come back to school.

Merill only played in one full season with the Wolverines – his freshman campaign in 2010-11. That season, the Brighton native was the first freshman defenseman since Jack Johnson in 2005-06 to record 20 points. Merrill was a finalist for CCHA Rookie of the Year, and the Best Offensive Defenseman and Best Defensive Defenseman conference awards.

The highly-touted prospect was suspended for roughly half the season in 2011-12, picking up 11 points in 19 games. He also missed 19 games this season after a broken vertebrae in an exhibition contest to start the year. He made his season debut on Jan. 8 against Bowling Green, and picked up two goals and 11 assists during the second-half rally from the Wolverines that led them to the CCHA Championship Game against Notre Dame.

Prior to joining the Wolverines, Merrill spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. Merrill played for Little Caesars before leaving for the elite USA Hockey training program.