Trade #4
Utah Hockey Club and New Jersey Devils
Nick Schmaltz and a 2nd Round Draft Pick from Utah Hockey Club for Dawson Mercer and a 4th Round Pick
The Devils are in need of a middle six forward and Nick Schmaltz can play right wing or center. He has been floating around the 60-point mark for the past three seasons and currently rocks 24 points in 30 games this season. That's a 65-point pace, right around his current average.
At 29 years old and with a full year left on his current contract, this could be a perfect move for the New Jersey Devils. As for the package itself, Mercer is only 23 years old, and he's signed a three-year deal right before this season. He remains a restricted free agent once that deal ends, so Utah would have full negotiating rights to him first, while GM Tom Fitzgerald would have to look into an extension with Schmaltz at some point next season.
Utah is also underperforming this season and could likely be heading towards a sell-off as the trade deadline approaches; Mercer would be a key piece to their core in the future. The Devils need to take that next leap forward, so filling out the lineup with another vet could be the missing piece.