Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part III

[NjDevsRR]

I am not high on him, but Mercer is a guy you keep for your 3rd line. He is young, will be relatively cheap and is the kind of forward that sometimes gets better with age.

But by all means, if there is a trade out there that will improve the team that involves him, I won’t say no to it.

 

[britdevil]

Lots of opinions on here. I don't think a few voices are representative of the board.

Fair enough. Trading him, before he's even reached prime years, seems utterly foolish to me.

I would absolutely look to trade Mercer this summer in a deal for an upgrade at forward, and hope he still has value. He stinks.

23 year old, mid first round pick, who is among the top point producers in his draft class.. Oh yeah, zero value. GM's HATE this type of player.

Come on....

You add to the roster and build depth. Trading him (I'm assuming here) for another 3rd liner is a sideways move.

Trading him for an upgrade who can play in the top 6 is strip mining the bottom six even further... What's the plan?

 

[njdevils1982]

I’ll trade anybody for the right deal. Literally anyone.

...but would you sell your own mother? i know @My3Sons would sell his kids in a heartbeat

 

[JrFischer54]

Coming into the season he was pegged as 3RW. I'd say that while we would like more offense, he's playing to his assignment.

This team needs it's big trade acquisition, 28 year old, nigh on $9mill man to score some f***ing goals.

i agree with that timo has been a massive letdown. maybe he will turn it on like he did last year down the stretch but so far hes been very meh too

I would absolutely look to trade Mercer this summer in a deal for an upgrade at forward, and hope he still has value. He stinks.

i'm either way maybe mercer ceiling is 3rd line fringe fill in 2nd line material and thats fine if thats what we know what we will get from him and not expect more. you trade him for an "upgrade" you just have to find another guy to take his roll. sure you can say it will move people down from the top but those guys have been mediocre themselves.

i do think its easier to find 3rd 4th line talent then top two lines so if mercer + can fetch that talent maybe get it done.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Fair enough. Trading him, before he's even reached prime years, seems utterly foolish to me.


23 year old, mid first round pick, who is among the top point producers in his draft class.. Oh yeah, zero value. GM's HATE this type of player.

Come on....

You add to the roster and build depth. Trading him (I'm assuming here) for another 3rd liner is a sideways move.

Trading him for an upgrade who can play in the top 6 is strip mining the bottom six even further... What's the plan?

I don't care where he was drafted 5-6 years later. He has played 300 games and his play has stagnated, and even gotten worse.

Guy has not done anything of value since the 2023 playoffs started.

I didn't say to trade him for a 3rd liner. I said to package him for an upgrade. I agree trading him for a draft pick or something is stupid.

 

[britdevil]

I am not high on him, but Mercer is a guy you keep for your 3rd line. He is young, will be relatively cheap and is the kind of forward that sometimes gets better with age.

But by all means, if there is a trade out there that will improve the team that involves him, I won’t say no to it.

Mercer goes on one heater and all this crap will fade and you lot will be back on the untouchable choo choo train.

 

[NjDevsRR]

choo choo train.

 

[Forge]

 

[britdevil]

I don't care where he was drafted 5-6 years later. He has played 300 games and his play has stagnated, and even gotten worse.

Guy has not done anything of value since the 2023 playoffs started.

I didn't say to trade him for a 3rd liner. I said to package him for an upgrade. I agree trading him for a draft pick or something is stupid.

Bro outscored Bratt and Nico in those playoffs.

Trading him for pick would indeed be monumentally stupid. I'd also argue that trading him for this magical top sixer unicorn could also be seen as dumb.

Our bottom six is putrid and Mercer is the only guy there with upside (maybe Cotter as a 3rd line tweener, but not likely).

We're already paying 4 guys to be the go to guys in the top six. A roster, a team, needs balance.

 

[Mgd31]

With Nico and Markstrom out till probably after the break, this is where Keefe needs to earn his keep. Ruff couldn’t handle injuries and let’s see if Keefe can.

 

[TrufleShufle]

I am not high on him, but Mercer is a guy you keep for your 3rd line. He is young, will be relatively cheap and is the kind of forward that sometimes gets better with age.

But by all means, if there is a trade out there that will improve the team that involves him, I won’t say no to it.

Yea when he gets a little more experience and moves into vet territory after a couple playoff runs, he will absolutely be a guy who gms trade for to fill out their bottom 6 with potential to fill in top 6 gaps. It's nice to have a homegrown one even if it was at the expense of what we all hoped he could be.

If he was on another team, we would be clamoring to get him cheap from the team that is disappointed they didn't get what they thought they were. Also I have no doubt that if he was stapled to Hughes and Bratt as long as Palat has been this season he would put up easily the same numbers if not more.

Final take, Mercer has been fine, not great or near as good as he was at his best, but fine. But he will be an asset one day, I fully believe that, and not in the trade asset sense.

 

[Devs3cups]

Yeah, we’re in danger for the next two weeks. Just love it when guys get injured on crosschecks that go uncalled.

Survive the next two weeks and rest at 4 Nations.

If this team can survive the adversity they’re facing right now, I like where they’re at.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Yeah, we’re in danger for the next two weeks. Just love it when guys get injured on crosschecks that go uncalled.

Survive the next two weeks and rest at 4 Nations.

If this team can survive the adversity they’re facing right now, I like where they’re at.

Ugh, tough news yet again.

Tonight, PITT and Buff are must W’s in this current stretch.

 

[theoptimist]

The Goodbye Fitz Tour begins tonight

 

[Better Call Sal]

 

[NjDevsRR]

Im starting to wonder if it was that second crosscheck to the head rather the ribs. With Nicos history of concussions and with how non descript they are with the injury details. And the “week to week”

I hope not

 

[Mgd31]

Where is Haula? Where is Daws?

 

[NjDevsRR]

 

[njdevils1982]

The Goodbye Fitz Tour begins tonight

 

[My3Sons]

Im starting to wonder if it was that second crosscheck to the head rather the ribs. With Nicos history of concussions and with how non descript they are with the injury details. And the “week to week”

I hope not

Either is possible. Bruised cartilage or a slightly cracked rib or a concussion could all be week to week. Hopefully it's the easiest thing to recover from and he will be back right after the 4 Nations tourney. Maybe Haula is close to returning and the team can hold it together in the interim.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

This could be a season killer

 

[Bleedred]

This could be a season killer

If this kills it then the last stretch is what really killed it.

We should be able to beat teams like the Flyers, Sabres and Pens without Nico. At least some of them.

Can we beat teams like those with choker Jake Allen AND without Nico? Maybe not lol.

 

[JK3]

What happened to day to day?

 

[Clam Jensen]

Ah yes the classic day to day, to week to week, to he’s having a rib removed because he was a big Marilyn Manson fan growing up.

 

[I Hate Tie DOMI]

What happened to day to day?

Doesn't day to day mean week to week with this team? Week to week means month to month. We'll see Nico in April.