6 Moves New Jersey Devils Must Make To Have A Perfect Offseason
By Nick Natale
Sign Dawson Mercer to 3 Years, $4 Million AAV Contract
Fitzgerald did a good job over the years, locking up a lot of key pieces. Heading into this offseason, their pending free agents consist of mostly depth players. The only one that will earn somewhat significant money is Dawson Mercer.
Mercer's 2022-23 season went about as good as possible. He evaded any talk of a sophomore slump by putting up 27 goals and 56 points. However, 2023-24 hasn't been kind to him. He will end up falling well below that point production from a year ago and hasn't looked the same this season, as has most of the team. That being said, Mercer still fits into the future of this team and will be a fantastic top-nine contributor. The biggest downside is that Mercer likely cost himself some money and a long-term contract this summer.
Mercer has shown to be a high-end complimentary player at his best, and his reliability and 2022-23 season will earn him a solid contract. A bridge deal is the safest bet with Mercer and gives him a few years to prove he can be consistent from year to year. Four million dollar AAV would represent a strong financial commitment to Mercer while also not breaking the bank and locking the team into anything long-term.