Confirmed Signing with Link: [NJD] F Dawson Mercer re-signs with the Devils (3 years, $4M AAV)

[njdevils1982]

Look who showed up to crap on something good for NJ. I am so surprised as that is so out of character for you. You never purposely try to antagonize the NJ fanbase as that would be a ToS violation.

i second that emotion

 

[dgibb10]

A lot of things that make someone a great penalty-killer are not things you see great 5v5 defenders doing. Namely, icing the puck at all costs, selling out to block shots, and simply killing time by forcing outside passes. None of these things are good attributes at 5v5 but will make someone an excellent penalty killer. You don't need high hockey IQ to be a good penalty killer, you just need hustle and the willingness to block shots.

#BrendanSmithEliteAtIcingThePuck

 

[njdevils1982]

#BrendanSmithEliteAtIcingThePuck

people love to crap on brendan smith but i will cherish the memory of him obliterating bedard forever

 

[Juxtaposer]

#BrendanSmithEliteAtIcingThePuck

Hey, being able to corral a puck and fling it down the ice indiscriminately can be useful skill on the PK!

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Appears to be a standard bridge contract. Everything is always labeled a steal by the fans of the team here.

 

[My3Sons]

Appears to be a standard bridge contract. Everything is always labeled a steal by the fans of the team here.

I think that most of the second contracts are steals. It's the ones signed in UFA that are really worthwhile or not.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Unfortunately we see lots of kids come up and hit things in stride, but once dmen figure out their tendencies, etc, it’s that 3rd and 4th gear we need to see before we can feel real comfortable a player will consistently score at the NHL level.

That’s where Mercer is at right now. Hopefully he had a big, productive summer and takes that next step. Much like a Lucas Raymond took last year. Doesn’t have to be to that extent, but he has to find that consistency, and ability to adjust to what dmen are giving him. In Jersey, he’s gonna have to earn those opportunities as well. It’s not like he’s not competing for top 6 minutes.

So nothings gonna be handed to him. This will be a big season for him. If it mirrors last season, he’s likely not gonna be in NJ for the long term. They’ll use him at the deadline.

How could he do better than he did last season. He played with trash when he should have been on a scoring line since he is not a centre.

 

[dgibb10]

I think that most of the second contracts are steals. It's the ones signed in UFA that are really worthwhile or not.

Yup

Any GM with a brain can get a bargain on a RFA who isn't even arbitration eligble (except kyle dubas somehow).

Same with crediting GMs for selling at the deadline to the highest bidder or take a cap dump.

It's on the UFAs and 26 year old RFAs where the real smarts show. And the acquisitions with term. Not the rentals (both buying or selling)

 

[Goptor]

I think that most of the second contracts are steals. It's the ones signed in UFA that are really worthwhile or not.

Pretty much. The only players that haven't lived up to the contract are ones that get perpetually injured like Josh Norris.

 

[biturbo19]

Interesting that they basically went with the jumbo bridge deal. I can certainly see why that'd be the most attractive route with Mercer. For one, it gets the guy on a deal that at worst, should be reasonably close to fair value...but has the potential to be an absolute steal if he gets back on track with where he was headed previously. But i don't think he's established that he's one of those "core players" you want to lock up for 8 years at a zillion dollars, in the event that his regression last year ends up being more indicative of future performance than his prior trajectory.

Ultimately, you're getting 3 years of a good player at reasonably close to value as a "downside" to this deal. Best case, it's a steal...and you have to pay the piper when it comes to that next contract a few years from now. Which...if he's good enough to really "break the bank" on that next deal, you're usually pretty happy to do so...or if you have to, deal that player for significant value on more budget-friendly contracts.

 

[thefutures]

Last year cost him

 

[HBK27]

Interesting that they basically went with the jumbo bridge deal. I can certainly see why that'd be the most attractive route with Mercer. For one, it gets the guy on a deal that at worst, should be reasonably close to fair value...but has the potential to be an absolute steal if he gets back on track with where he was headed previously. But i don't think he's established that he's one of those "core players" you want to lock up for 8 years at a zillion dollars, in the event that his regression last year ends up being more indicative of future performance than his prior trajectory.

Ultimately, you're getting 3 years of a good player at reasonably close to value as a "downside" to this deal. Best case, it's a steal...and you have to pay the piper when it comes to that next contract a few years from now. Which...if he's good enough to really "break the bank" on that next deal, you're usually pretty happy to do so...or if you have to, deal that player for significant value on more budget-friendly contracts.

Devils really couldn't have gone long-term on Mercer even if they wanted to. He probably would've cost north of $6.5M and after this bridge contract the Devils only have ~$926K in cap space on a fully healthy 23-man roster.

With Luke Hughes and likely Pesce being injured to start the season, the Devils will either have to start the season on LTIR or with a 22-man roster.

Especially given the inconsistency we've seen in Mercer's short career, a bridge deal always made the most sense.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Devils have a nice culture of taking a team discount. Let’s see if Luke matches Jack’s contract.

No they don't. Most of their key players are well ABOVE what they would get from other clubs.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I would respectfully disagree with you. If he is bad defensively, why did Jersey use him on the PK? He was second on the team for forwards SH TOI per game behind Haula.

As a forward, being good on the PK =/= being good defensively

Mercer has a reputation of being a defensively responsible player, but in reality he really is not a great defensive player.

He has been pretty bad overall since the playoffs two years ago. I think the contract is fair, but he really needs to turn it around moving forward.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

No they don't. Most of their key players are well ABOVE what they would get from other clubs.

Their 3 best players Jack, Nico, and Bratt are all on great contracts.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

No they don't. Most of their key players are well ABOVE what they would get from other clubs.

take Hamilton out because he was UFA.

Which Devil signed in the past few years makes WELL ABOVE what they would get from other teams? Very interested in your answer!

 

[dgibb10]

Hey, being able to corral a puck and fling it down the ice indiscriminately can be useful skill on the PK!

It legit is.

I am fully on board with the idea that a number of teams with poor penalty kills would be pretty well suited to hide Brendan Smith for 8 minutes a night as a 12th forward and then make him their number 1 PK dman. Especially instead of an enforcer (which Smith can I guess kinda do as well

Elite PK guy + extra 7th dman in case of in game injury + decent face punching >> great face punching

As bad as he is as a dman EV, he is a stud on the PK

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Their 3 best players Jack, Nico, and Bratt are all on great contracts.

Great contracts for them. Of the three, Hischier is the only one playing at his contracts value. Bratt was a pleasant surprise last year with his two-way game but paying him more than Svechnikov or Jason Robertson?

And Jack being paid $8 million per? Based a lot more on marketing and merchandising than his impact on whether the team wins or loses games.

 

[Moist ReadOnly]

Their 3 best players Jack, Nico, and Bratt are all on great contracts.

A picture change after how long? I understand its Gaudreau but it caught me off-guard

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Great contracts for them. Of the three, Hischier is the only one playing at his contracts value. Bratt was a pleasant surprise last year with his two-way game but paying him more than Svechnikov or Jason Robertson?

And Jack being paid $8 million per? Based a lot more on marketing and merchandising than his impact on whether the team wins or loses games.

just say you don't understand how RFA contracts work and be done with it. And Bratt is a better player than Svechnikov is.

and the 2nd half of your post doesn't even deserve a response.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Great contracts for them. Of the three, Hischier is the only one playing at his contracts value. Bratt was a pleasant surprise last year with his two-way game but paying him more than Svechnikov or Jason Robertson?

And Jack being paid $8 million per? Based a lot more on marketing and merchandising than his impact on whether the team wins or loses games.

Oh so you're a crazy person. I thought I was talking to someone.