Coyotes sign forward Merkley to entry-level contract

Arizona Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed forward Nick Merkley to a three-year entry-level contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The 5-foot-10, 191-pound Merkley registered 20-70-90 with a plus-29 rating in 72 games with the Kelowna (WHL) in 2014-15. He led Kelowna and ranked sixth in the league in scoring and finished third in the WHL in assists.

Merkley added 5-22-27 in 19 postseason games to help the Rockets win the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions. He also collected 3-2-5 at the 2015 Memorial Cup to help Kelowna reach the championship game.

The 18-year-old native of Calgary, Alberta has totaled 45-103-148 and a plus-53 rating in 139 career games with the Rockets. He was named the 2013-14 WHL Rookie of the Year after recording 25-33-58 in 66 games.

Merkley was drafted by the Coyotes in the first round (30th overall) in the 2015 Entry Draft.