New Jersey Devils: Dawson Mercer Will Provide Great Depth

The New Jersey Devils selected Dawson Mercer with the 18th-overall pick.

The New Jersey Devils started their night by selecting Alexander Holtz with the seventh pick in the 1st round of the draft. This is a talent that is expected to join New Jersey’s top six in the not so distant future. With two picks looming not long after, they were in a good position to have a very good draft. With their second pick of the 1st round, they selected Dawson Mercer.

Mercer plays for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior league. He was traded in the middle of the season last year but was over a point per game with each of his squads in the QMJHL. This is a guy who likes to play a solid two-way game and it should translate to the NHL.

He was compared on the television broadcast to Mike Fisher who had some great years for the Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators. His favorite player is Patrice Bergeron, which means that he probably models his game after him. If you think about it, Bergeron was just a way better version of Fisher, so it all makes sense.

If you are looking for a guy to turn into a superstar game-breaker, this guy probably isn’t it. He likely isn’t going to be a point per game player in the NHL but he will provide tremendous depth to a team that should be loaded with offensive talent by the time he gets here. Who knows, maybe some game-changing offense will come out down the road.

This Devils team really needs some depth at forward so adding guys like this makes total sense. A lot of people were very high on Mercer so this feels like a home run pick. If he can one day help them with their power play or penalty kill, that will make things even better. The fact that he might be able to be a guy who helps them in all situations makes this feel like the perfect fit. Hopefully, we see Dawson Mercer making an impact at the NHL level sooner than later.