Pucks and Pitchforks
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Grading Each New Jersey Devils Players’ Playoff Performances

By Jonathan Bailey

New Jersey Devils celebrate their win over the New York Rangers in game seven of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
New Jersey Devils celebrate their win over the New York Rangers in game seven of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Jersey Devils
Dawson Mercer #91 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Dawson Mercer – Grade: B-

The 2023 Devils postseason can be described mostly in moments rather than a consistent, game-to-game theme. This is exactly how things went for budding star Dawson Mercer as well.

After a really strong regular season that built on his rookie campaign from last year, Mercer got washed out of plays at 5v5 far too often in the playoffs. However, some of this was due to the role he was cast in, and then the real Dawson Mercer showed up in the final three games of the Carolina series.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1656807557489467392?s=20

Mercer’s point total was buoyed to seven after a three-assist outburst in the 8-4 win over Carolina in Game 3, but there were some moments too. That short-handed goal against the Rangers in Game 5 was a really special goal.

Overall, you would like Mercer’s game to be a bit more consistent, but for a young player like him, things could have been worse. He’s one of the few Devils still on an entry-level contract, and thank goodness for that.

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