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New Jersey Devils: 5 Things We’ve Learned In First Month Of Season

By Nick Villano

Dawson Mercer #18 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates his first NHL goal at 5:02 of the first period against the Seattle Kraken at the Prudential Center on October 19, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Dawson Mercer #18 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates his first NHL goal at 5:02 of the first period against the Seattle Kraken at the Prudential Center on October 19, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (18): (Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports) /

1. Dawson Mercer Is Already Really Good

It was clear in the preseason that Dawson Mercer was ready for primetime. Whoever Lindy Ruff paired him with, he excelled. However, nobody really thought he’d be this good once the games actually counted. Through seven games, Mercer has three goals and two assists. Both of his assists are first assists. Offensively, there might not be a better player on this team than Mercer.

Pairing Jesper Bratt with Mercer has literally turned his season around. He had zero points in his first five games. He immediately got his first three points in two games with Mercer. Mercer is driving players to be better. It’s clear.

So far this season, Mercer leads the team in CF%. He has been on the ice for 91 chances for and 64 chances against. He’s been on the ice for 7 goals and only 2 goals against when the Devils are at even strength. The Devils are the better team at all times when Mercer is out there.

Mercer is so young still, and maybe he starts to get inconsistent like other rookies have in the past, but he’s been so good to start the season, and he’s clearly the best forward on the Devils when Hughes is not on the ice.

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