Prospect of the Week: Ryan Merkley (1/13)

Ryan Merkley has been selected as the 'Sharks Prospect of the Week' for the week of Jan. 13 after posting a two-game point streak (one goal, one assist) and a plus-three rating over the weekend for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The two points helped extend Merkley's current point streak to five games (four goals, four assists) from Jan. 10-19.
Merkley, 19, now has 49 points (11 goals, 38 assists) over 40 games played this season, ranking third among all OHL blueliners in points and assists.

Tweet from @TheOilKnight: What a goal by Ryan Merkley! 3-1 London. pic.twitter.com/U0BofHGZND
Last season, the defenseman split the year between the Guelph Storm and Peterborough Petes in the OHL, and the San Jose Barracuda in the American Hockey League (AHL). He registered 39 points (five goals, 34 assists) in 28 games for the Storm, 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 25 games for the Petes, and logged two games with the Barracuda. Between his time with the Storm and Petes, Merkley led all OHL defensemen in assists with 57.
The five-foot-11, 174-pound native of Oakville, Ontario was originally selected by the San Jose Sharks in the 2018 NHL Draft (first round, 21st overall). This is his second Sharks Prospect of the Week honors this season.