Mercer, 23 subsequent month, was one among 4 notable RFAs nonetheless left unsigned after coaching camps started throughout the league earlier this week. Now, solely Nikita Alexandrov (Blues), Cole Perfetti (Jets) and Jeremy Swayman (Bruins) stay with out offers amongst RFAs who logged important NHL time final season.
The 2020 No. 18 general choose is coming off a down 12 months, making it straightforward to shift negotiations towards a bridge deal somewhat than shelling out money for a long-term pact with higher threat for the staff. The Newfoundland and Labrador native nonetheless managed to hit the 20-goal mark however posted profession lows in assists (13), factors (33) and ranking (-26).
Mercer is a talented shooter, ending on 14.3% of his 449 pictures on objective over his three-year profession. He’s additionally confirmed extremely sturdy — he’s but to overlook a sport since making his NHL debut on the opening night time of the 2021-22 common season.
Whereas a pure middle, Mercer has spent most of his time on the wing within the NHL. That’s partly as a result of the Devils have Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes locked in as their high two facilities but in addition due to Mercer’s struggles within the faceoff dot. He’s bettering in that regard, successful 119 of his 265 attracts final 12 months (44.9 FOW%), however nonetheless has a profession win fee of 39%.
He’s flashed hints of his offensive ceiling, posting 56 factors in 2022-23 throughout New Jersey’s resurgent 112-point marketing campaign. His manufacturing and possession numbers have primarily risen and fallen with the staff’s document, so with the Devils primed to return to postseason competitors subsequent spring, anticipate a rebound from Mercer.
Common supervisor Tom Fitzgerald said they were close to a deal over a month in the past, however it took various work to finalize. There have been near-daily experiences over the previous few days that the Devils and Mercer had been feverishly working towards getting him signed and in coaching camp as quickly as doable.
After averaging a career-high 17:13 per sport final season, together with important time on each particular groups items, Mercer will look to stay in a extra constant top-six function at even power in 2024-25. He bounced round loads final 12 months, not recording greater than 100 minutes of ice time with a single set of linemates, per MoneyPuck. Early line rushes at coaching camp, accounting for placeholders, recommend he might open the season alongside Hughes and Timo Meier.
The Devils now have $976K in projected cap area with an open roster spot after Mercer signed, per PuckPedia. That determine assumes defenseman Luke Hughes will begin the season on normal injured reserve with a shoulder injury, not long-term injured reserve.
Retaining Mercer’s cap hit to $4M permits the Devils to hold a full 23-man roster on opening night time with no need to position Hughes on LTIR to open up cap area. Santeri Hatakka is the likeliest candidate to fill in as an additional defender on the NHL roster after posting two assists and a +5 ranking in 12 video games in fringe motion for New Jersey final season.
A 3-year deal doesn’t stroll Mercer to unrestricted free company. He’ll nonetheless be beneath staff management when his deal expires after the 2026-27 season.