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Sharks' Ryan Merkley recalls staying with Brent Burns, fear of snakes

Sharks top prospect Ryan Merkley has yet to appear in an NHL game, but the 19-year-old already has had a fair amount of exposure to some of the top players in the sport.

Months after being selected with the No. 21 overall pick of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Merkley joined the Sharks for training camp, during which he shared the ice with some of the best players to ever wear the teal sweater.

"It's incredible getting in that dressing room when you're sitting beside [Brent Burns], Erik Karlsson, looking across at [Logan] Couture, [Joe] Thornton," Merkley said on the latest episode of the San Jose Barracuda's "Next Wave" podcast.