New Jersey Devils Organization Should Re-Sign Dawson Merce

With the final season of his Entry-Level Contract (ELC) up, the question on many New Jersey Devils fans minds is “What’s going to happen to Dawson Mercer?”  The 22-year-old forward signed his ELC in December 2020 after being drafted 18th overall earlier that same year. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has made qualifying offers to Mercer among other players, but he has yet to re-sign any of them.

Dawson Mercer’s Contract and his Record With the Team So Far

Mercer made his NHL debut at the beginning of the 2021-22 season against the Chicago Blackhawks where he recorded his first assist. Four days later, he scored his first NHL goal in a 4-2 win against the Seattle Kraken. During his rookie season he was the only Devil to play in all 82 games of the season. He ended his rookie year with 42 points.

Since then, Mercer has continued to evolve as a player. During the 2022-23 season he recorded his first NHL hat trick in a 5-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Moreover, he’s someone who gets moved around in the lineup quite often, usually rotating between the second and third lines. He’s a dynamic player who’s able to play as a centre or right wing. This came in very handy the past season when the team was constantly switching the lineup around to accommodate for injuries. Aside from him being able to alternate positions, Mercer’s had two consecutive 20-goal seasons