Prospect Info: Dawson Mercer (#18 pick - 2020 draft)

[Nubmer6]

Least amount of posts in this thread...but my favorite pick for the Devils tonight

There is so little to argue about with this player or with the perceived value of the pick. So solid.

Yep. These two statements are definitely interrelated.

 

[Lou is God]

"Heavy boots", is that implying he's a slow skater? Never heard that before.

 

[The Wumpus]

"Heavy boots", is that implying he's a slow skater? Never heard that before.

I don't think slow as in speed, but maybe an overly long stride

 

[Devils731]

"Heavy boots", is that implying he's a slow skater? Never heard that before.

I took it as his feet don’t move fast. I think of acceleration with that.

The article is about him being deceptively shifty due to his hands and his eyes; that he sets guys up for the shiftiness rather than physically outperforming the defender.

 

[Lucky Luke]

This kid has talent. Believe me.
Very disappointed that the Habs did not select him at #16.

 

[GameSeven]

"Heavy boots", is that implying he's a slow skater? Never heard that before.

I'd have expected it to mean tough to knock off his stride, like we describe guys with low center of gravity, but maybe that's the glass half full take.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I took heavy boots to mean tough to knock off the puck.

 

[Lou is God]

I'd have expected it to mean tough to knock off his stride, like we describe guys with low center of gravity, but maybe that's the glass half full take.

NOW that makes sense.

 

[Bcap88]

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Mercer sounds like a future Zajac with better hands

Zajac’s hands are underrated!

 

[Satan]

Was hoping he would sneak into the top 15- I think the Devils got a great pick in Mercer

 

[Xirik]

Zajac’s hands are underrated!

yeah, He has Play-doh hands! not Concrete!

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

yeah, He has Play-doh hands! not Concrete!

Im serious! Travis has had decent hands for a long time, his most underrated tool IMO

Dawson’s are worlds better but for sure i have always like Zajac’s non-stone hands!

 

[GameSeven]

NOW that makes sense.

In fact, I wonder if the OP didn't intend for Heavy Boots to extend the statement that followed...

"Heavy boots, improving off-puck offence."

In other words, being tough to move or knock around helps his offense without the puck.

 

[Nubmer6]

Im serious! Travis has had decent hands for a long time, his most underrated tool IMO

Dawson’s are worlds better but for sure i have always like Zajac’s non-stone hands!

Ah. You're new to this board.

Around these parts, he's known as Stone Hands.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Ah. You're new to this board.

Around these parts, he's known as Stone Hands.

Lmfao why!

I admit he sometimes cant catch a pass to save his life and his shot is ugly, but Ive always like his hands around the boards and net

That is funny though, I think I've heard that at games before. Along with Andy Brown (Greene), which was always funny because it was used as a 'who the f*** is this guy' when he first came up lol

 

[Xirik]

Lmfao why!

I admit he sometimes cant catch a pass to save his life and his shot is ugly, but Ive always like his hands around the boards and net

That is funny though, I think I've heard that at games before. Along with Andy Brown (Greene), which was always funny because it was used as a 'who the f*** is this guy' when he first came up lol

Don't worry, All HF Devils fans here have opinions on the team which they are willing to make a hill and die on. This just will be yours.

Personally Zajac was good in the early 2010's but in the past five years I don't even get excited when Zajac is on a breakaway or on a 2v1. I just know he will shoot into the pads or Chest protector. his Passing, Faceoff, And defensive play are all great though.

 

[Nubmer6]

Lmfao why!

I admit he sometimes cant catch a pass to save his life and his shot is ugly, but Ive always like his hands around the boards and net

I think part of it is an excuse to use this graphic:

 

[glenwo2]

I took heavy boots to mean tough to knock off the puck.

So did I.

 

[glenwo2]

Zajac’s hands are underrated!

And a less Goofy look.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I'm going to say that the Mercer pick at #18 was just tremendous.

Dawson Mercer is a player without weakness, and also a player with three elite strengths. His hands are just outstanding; he's a stickhandle in phone booth kind of player who can beat top defensemen one on one and lethal to goaltenders in close. His other elite abilities are intangibles -- Mercer features an elite compete level and elite hockey IQ. This kid quite simply does everything right -- from anticipating the play, to two-way acumen, to positioning to puck decisions. The accolades don't stop here -- Mercer is a "dual threat" winger, which is to say he's an outstanding passer and shooter, and always seems to know which of the two is the right option in any offensive situation.

This combination makes Mercer not only a high-upside potential star, but also an extremely versatile player. We're talking about a kid who can excel as a third-line center or a top-line right wing, a kid who can play on the power play or the penalty kill. Dawson Mercer is a coach's dream, a teammate's dream and a fan's dream -- he's the kind of player you win with and he's really going to shine in New Jersey.

Though Mercer lacks anything which can be correctly called a "flaw", he's only slightly above average in terms of skating. This is likely the reason a player so exceptional in every other aspect of the game fell to #18. If he can improve his explosiveness in the next season or two of development, the sky might not even be the limit. He's the rare multi-threat forward who combines a power game, a cerebral game, and a dynamically talented game.

 

[Devil made me do it]

I love this pick but I'm a bit confused. Will Mercer play as a C or a RW?

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

I love this pick but I'm a bit confused. Will Mercer play as a C or a RW?

as an S

a Skater, my mans is so well-rounded he may be the entire Exodia of our prospect deck!

 

[Forge]

I love this pick but I'm a bit confused. Will Mercer play as a C or a RW?

I think they are introing him as a center, so I figure that they'll probably try that out first, but ultimately I do think he's a winger.

This draft had a lot of center / winger types. Lots of guys who have a shot to play center, but I'm just not bullish on being able to do so. But it's hard to judge sometimes because the defensive responsibilities are such a big part of playing the position, and lets be honest, in some leagues, that's just not a real thing for some draft eligibles.

 

[Devils Army]

Seems like a good guy to put on Hughes wing. A smart player who can win the puck and make up for some of his faults defensively. Almost like one of the guys Crosby would love on his wing.