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Is it inevitable that Dawson Mercer gets traded by the New Jersey Devils this offseason?

The New Jersey Devils have a lot to get done this offseason, and it's caused many to ignore the interesting situation surrounding center/winger Dawson Mercer.
ByNick Villano|
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New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (91) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (91) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images | David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The New Jersey Devils are going into this offseason with somewhat of a clean slate in terms of management decisions. Sunny Mehta has started to make his first moves as GM, including cleaning out some front office positions, keeping Sheldon Keefe on the bench, and starting conversations with upcoming free agents, including Nico Hischier. 

Is Dawson Mercer better trade bait or cheap goal scoring for the New Jersey Devils?

There’s so much more to do with the Devils, including scout draft picks, assess the prospect pool, and figure out how to create cap space. There are a laundry list of options this offseason, even if free agency is terrible. Mehta has his hands full, but he has options aplenty. 

One option that’s most obvious is to make a trade. For many, the focus is on Hischier and young defenseman Simon Nemec. Hischier would only happen if he refused to sign an extension. Nemec is another story. He seems the most likely to be traded because of his need for a new contract and the consternation that’s come from his early years in the NHL. 

Another player who has often been spoken about as if he’s on the trade block is Dawson Mercer. Is that fair?

Mercer basically had his worst season this year, and he scored 20 goals. That appears to be Mercer’s floor. If you can get a 20-goal floor in 2026 at just $4 million per season, you take it. 

Mercer is at the end of his contract, and it might be smart to give him a contract extension while his value is low. It doesn’t make a ton of sense to trade him while his value is low. 

That is, unless a team is willing to pay full value for Mercer in a swap. Like, say, the Devils are going after Jason Robertson or Jordan Kyrou, and Mercer is part of the price, then so be it. Or, if they can trade him for a high-upside young player like Shane Wright or Mason McTavish, there’s value there, too. 

Still, the Devils would be smart to take the process with Mercer slow. If they can market Mercer as a center, he would immediately become one of the best options on the trade board. That could come with a big price, and if the Devils are getting a big price for Mercer, then they might have to take it. 

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