Value of: Mercer to Minnesota

[DigitalBoldy]

What would it cost to acquire Mercer from NJ?

Mercer has a few qualities that Guerin might like:
-Right handed
-Has skill
-Can play both the PP and PK
-He’s not a midget

What say ye?

 

[Djp]

You realize he's only a winger

 

[DigitalBoldy]

You realize he's only a winger

I’m aware. Minnesota could use a right shot scoring winger.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Rossi?

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Rossi?

What would you add to Mercer in that kind of deal?

 

[57special]

I’m aware. Minnesota could use a right shot scoring winger.

Scoring winger? He is Freddy Gaudreau who plays wing, and has twice the cap hit. I don't think you are at all aware of what he is.

 

[ref19]

Scoring winger? He is Freddy Gaudreau who plays wing, and has twice the cap hit. I don't think you are at all aware of what he is.

Bingo.

 

[Forge]

Not a good fit with regards to trade partners, imo.


Mercer shouldn't be moved for futures. Would have to be a "hockey trade" and I Just don't know where the fit is for the devils on the Minnesota roster.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Scoring winger? He is Freddy Gaudreau who plays wing, and has twice the cap hit. I don't think you are at all aware of what he is.

Pretty laughable comparison.

Idk if you’ve seen our wingers recently, but Mercer would be an upgrade on most of them.

 

[57special]

Pretty laughable comparison.

Idk if you’ve seen our wingers recently, but Mercer would be an upgrade on most of them.

What impressed you most about this "scoring" winger, his 36 point season this year, or his 33 point season last year?

 

[DigitalBoldy]

What impressed you most about this "scoring" winger, his 36 point season this year, or his 33 point season last year?

Him averaging ~21 goals a season in his age 20 to 23 seasons.

 

[Jerzey Devil]

Devils need an agitator big time

 

[AKL]

I actually think Hartman for Mercer could be a solid deal for both sides, but I don't know that either side would actually do it

 

[ctmagic]

Mercer + for Rossi wouldn’t be terrible but I’m holding out hope Rossi is used in a trade to land a bigger fish.

Where does Rossi fit in when Hughes and Nico are both healthy? Seems like they’d want a center with more grit, physicality in their game.

 

[keppel146]

Mercer + for Rossi wouldn’t be terrible but I’m holding out hope Rossi is used in a trade to land a bigger fish.

Where does Rossi fit in when Hughes and Nico are both healthy? Seems like they’d want a center with more grit, physicality in their game.

Yes.

 

[Devils Trap]

I actually think Hartman for Mercer could be a solid deal for both sides, but I don't know that either side would actually do it

Done, I would love Hartman

 

[ctmagic]

I think losing Hartman would hurt, but I’d do that trade.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I actually think Hartman for Mercer could be a solid deal for both sides, but I don't know that either side would actually do it

Reminds me of Zacha for Haula, a trade that NJ did mostly because they had given up on Zacha. I'm not sure the Devils are there yet with Mercer, but I wouldn't be shocked if this deal happened. I also would be mad if it happened, but I can see NJ being aggressive to try and find certain players that fit certain archetypes and Hartman is exactly what I think the FO wants as 3rd line c.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I am probably the biggest Mercer hater there is, but NJ should not trade him for futures or draft picks. He should be either traded in a hockey deal or packaged for a forward upgrade.

I think his value around the league is probably higher than what his actual on-ice play is. He "can" play center, but he stinks at it, and he also is not particularly good defensively. Good PKer though.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

What a weird trajectory. Awesome first 2 years and then falls and flatlines the next 2, even though his linemates didn't much change and his ice time increased.

 

[Brodeur]

What a weird trajectory. Awesome first 2 years and then falls and flatlines the next 2, even though his linemates didn't much change and his ice time increased.

Mercer got shifted around the lineup the past few seasons. His best stretch came at RW with Tatar and Hischer in 2022-23. Lindy Ruff tried Mercer at center (sometimes out of necessity when Hughes/Hischier missed time) to generally unsexy results in 2023-24. Mercer started this season back at wing but found himself back at center due to Jack's injury and Erik Haula's ineffectiveness.

PP2 has been kinda abysmal for the Devils the past two seasons. Dougie Hamilton missed most of 2023-24 with injury which led to Simon Nemec getting PP2 as a result. This year, even Luke Hughes wasn't particularly productive on PP2. Luke had 6 PP assists through 53 games then got promoted to PP1 when Hamilton got hurt. Luke finished with 10 PP assists in the final 18 games.

Not to imply that Mercer was great on PP2 or anything, but typically that unit looked like: Meier-Mercer-Palat-Tatar-L.Hughes getting mop up duty. Similar to Luke, Timo's numbers were better after he got put on PP1 when Jack got hurt.

TLDR - Mercer can be a good complementary player and has enough skill to play in the top 6, but seemingly can't drive his own line.