Devils coach Pete DeBoer: Jon Merrill will be ready to start season
New Jersey Devils head coach Pete DeBoer said defenseman Jon Merrill will be ready for the start of the season following a head injury last week, according to the NewarkStar-Ledger's Rich Chere.
Merrill, 22, has not practiced since a head-to-head collision with Ruslan Fedotenko last Friday. DeBoer said Merrill would be practicing if it were the regular season.
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Merrill had two goals, nine assists and 11 penalty minutes during his rookie season with the Devils. He was a second-round pick in the 2010 draft by New Jersey.
The Devils finished last season 35-29-18, missing the playoffs by five points. They open the regular season Oct. 9 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
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- Paul Palladino