 When the LumberJax left Portland at the end of the 2009 season, the league held a dispersal draft.Merrill was selected with the first overall pick in the draft by the Edmonton Rush.On August 9, 2011, he was traded to the Philadelphia Wings, along with Rush forwards Dean Hill, Mike McLellan, and Edmonton's 41st selection in the 2011 entry draft, and the 4th round selection in 2013.