New Jersey Devils: Dawson Mercer Continues to Dominate the QMJHL

As another lackluster season for the New Jersey Devils comes to a close, the organization and the fans have a lot to look forward to the continuing development of a very young Devils team, the 2021 NHL draft, a healthy Nico Hischier, and Mackenzie Blackwood to thrive next season, and the potential to see top-tier prospects to make their NHL debut. One prospect that has continued to make himself noticed to the fans and the organization is Dawson Mercer.

The regular season for the Devils‘ 18th-overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft recently ended. He ended the season with an outstanding 36 points in 23 games. Things haven’t slowed down for him in the playoffs. He scored seven points in three games, putting him fifth in the QMJHL despite playing fewer games than some of the players ahead of him. Mercer’s recent production comes to no surprise because he has been consistently dominant throughout the season. However, it is surprising how much he is dominating after he was traded to Chicoutimi. It shows that he adjusted very well to a new environment, and he became a key contributor to his new team’s success. Sometimes when a player gets traded in juniors, it really hinders their development.

Mercer’s faceoff percentage is another major positive in his game. During the regular season, he won 56.4%  of the 452 faceoffs. So far in the playoffs, he stepped up by winning 66.2% of the 77 faceoffs. Mercer’s success in the face-off circle is another promising attribute that the Devils organization should be looking forward to. Mercer has the potential to be another great asset to Devils’ center position which is already very deep. Even if Mercer ends up being a winger when he plays with the big club, Mercer can be a great asset in the face-off circle if he is needed.

Overall, Mercer has continued to dominate in the QMJHL and be a key contributor to his team. His overall game, production, and versatility continually make Devils fans raise their hype about him. His consistency shows a lot of promise of what he can bring to the Devils organization when the time comes. He will be a big gem for the Devils and competing teams better watch out for him shortly.

What do you think about Mercer’s performance in the playoffs so far? Do you think he can keep this up? Do you expect him and his team to make a huge run in the playoffs? Please feel free to leave a comment below and let’s get a discussion going.