Dawson Mercer has stepped up when New Jersey Devils needed him the most

The New Jersey Devils needed the Dawson Mercer of old when they did not make any meaningful changes to the forward group this past offseason and, so far, the team might be getting even more than what it had bargained for.

Through 25 games, Mercer, 24, has 10 goals, 10 assists, and 20 points, putting him on pace for 33 goals, 33 assists, and 66 points over the course of a full 82-game season.

Of course, the former first-round pick had underwhelmed with consecutive 30-point seasons after a promising 56-point breakout campaign in 2022-23. Now, though, it seems like Mercer is finally returning to, or even growing past, that form of three seasons ago.

Perhaps more important has been Mercer's performances at center, which have been necessitated by injuries to No. 3 center Cody Glass and No. 1 center and franchise player Jack Hughes, respectively.

The 24-year-old is finally back to scoring in a plethora of different roles, has emerged as one of Sheldon Keefe's most trusted and reliable penalty killer, and overall taking a step forward after largely becoming a player who fans were counting out.

Now, Mercer does benefit from having the highest PDO (save percentage plus on-ice shooting percentage) 5-on-5 on the Devils at 1.014, according to Natural Stat Trick, but common linemates Nico Hischier and Timo Meier are up there at third and fourth, respectively.

They're all playing well, and it's not as if Mercer alone was getting the bounces at both ends of the ice. That type of luck will, invariably, come and go as the season progresses further, but many around the game will say that good players earn their bounces. Mercer has done that all year long.

It helps, too, that we are finally seeing more and more flashes of the impressive hands and individual skills that made Mercer a first-round pick back in 2020.

The versatile 6-foot forward quite literally almost single-handedly dragged the Devils back into the game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night, helping erase a 4-1 deficit with some individual magic.

Sure, the Devils ultimately lost 5-3, and Mercer's two points went to waste, but the fact that he can now be considered reliable and one of the team's best forwards again is a step forward in and of itself.

Whether or not that trend continues for a full season and beyond remains to be seen, but the Devils are getting exactly what they needed from Mercer, who has done his part and more, in a big season for the franchise.