New England Hockey Journal

Fantasy Summary

Big centreman with an NHL-calibre shot. Needs to address major skating deficiencies in order to push for a bottom-six role.


Observations

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September 2024 – In the Montreal Canadiens draft video, scouts seemed enamoured by Ben Merrill’s large frame (6-4, 194), and high-end shot. The team agreed that if he can address issues in his game, notably his skating, which is clunky and unrefined, he could be a high-end NHL fourth line centre. With other big-bodied players coming up in the organization (fellow 2024 draftee Tyler Thorpe, and 2023 fourth rounder Florian Xhekaj), it is clear the direction the Canadiens want to take with the future fourth line. Aaron Itovitch

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 5.0
NHL Certainty 6.0
Country USA
Position C
Roster Type Junior
Shoot/Glove Right
Date of Birth November 4, 2005
Height 6‘4”
Weight 194 lbs
Drafted 2024 Round 6; Overall: 166

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2020-2021 Boston Advantage 16U AAA USPHL 16U3 1 01 2|Playoffs3 0 11
  Boston Advantage 16U AAAUSPHL 16U4 2 13 0|Playoffs3 0 11
 2021-2022 Cape Cod Whalers 16U AAA16U AAA25 6 410 -|        
  St. Sebastian's School USHS-Prep21 2 13 -|        
 2022-2023 South Shore Kings 18U AAA Prep18U AAA23 13 1326 -|        
  St. Sebastian's School USHS-Prep27 11 1324 -|        
 2023-2024 Cape Cod Whalers 18U AAAEHF 18U Elite- - -- -|        
  St. Sebastian's School USHS-Prep25 18 1937 -|        
  Chicago SteelUSHL2 0 00 0|        
 2024-2025 Penticton VeesBCHL7 1 01 4|        
 2025-2026 Harvard Univ.NCAA- - -- -|        

Highlights