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

[StevenToddIves]

I don't expect Mercer to be a huge scorer in the NHL but I think he can be a 20-25 goal, 50-55 point player in his prime with a great two-way game. Just like everything I've seen and read about him, he is a player who is way more valuable to the roster than what his stats might suggest and guys like him are an integral part to winning teams.

Really excited to have him!

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Holtz scores more goals but Mercer accumulates more total points. The basis of this is that, though Holtz is a very good passer, Mercer is just an outstanding playmaker. I would say there's a clear difference. Mercer is also very good at getting to the net and scoring dirty goals. I think everyone who follows my prospect/draft writing knows how incredibly high I've been on this kid all year long. I think Dawson Mercer surprises people in that he's not simply "a complete player" as he's been often labeled -- he's also a dynamic offensive talent.

 

[My3Sons]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Holtz scores more goals but Mercer accumulates more total points. The basis of this is that, though Holtz is a very good passer, Mercer is just an outstanding playmaker. I would say there's a clear difference. Mercer is also very good at getting to the net and scoring dirty goals. I think everyone who follows my prospect/draft writing knows how incredibly high I've been on this kid all year long. I think Dawson Mercer surprises people in that he's not simply "a complete player" as he's been often labeled -- he's also a dynamic offensive talent.

I think he will eventually be a perfect line mate for Nico. Can you imagine having to face two guys that talented and that willing to compete in all three zones. They will absolutely grind down other teams and in third periods will pile it on. As much as I like Bratt I’d like to see a bigger grittier player with those two.

 

[Eggtimer]

I think he will eventually be a perfect line mate for Nico. Can you imagine having to face two guys that talented and that willing to compete in all three zones. They will absolutely grind down other teams and in third periods will pile it on. As much as I like Bratt I’d like to see a bigger grittier player with those two.

Nico center with Foote and Mercer flanking him . Unless Foote and Mercer both play same wing ? On paper it sounds like it would be a very good future line . Have Hughes with Holtz .
Split up some grit and go :
Xxx Nico Mercer
Foote Hughes Holtz

I’m obviously biased but does that top 6 not look deadly in 2-3 years....Just need a LW for Nico .

 

[glenwo2]

Nico center with Foote and Mercer flanking him . Unless Foote and Mercer both play same wing ? On paper it sounds like it would be a very good future line . Have Hughes with Holtz .
Split up some grit and go :
Xxx Nico Mercer
Foote Hughes Holtz

I’m obviously biased but does that top 6 not look deadly in 2-3 years....Just need a LW for Nico .

He can play LW, plus he has great chemistry with Nico.

I know we all like the line of Bratt, Zacha, and Goose, but there's no guarantee that line stays intact.


That said, I do believe the Devils may end up re-signing Palms in the end, though.

So it could be him on the LW (does he play LW? I forget).

 

[HenriquesJawLine]

Perhaps I'm reading the schedule wrong in French but does Mercer really not have another game until the 30th?

 

[Buggsy]

Perhaps I'm reading the schedule wrong in French but does Mercer really not have another game until the 30th?

The QMJHL has suspended play in the Quebec Division for now. Quebec has their second wave hitting, and 6 of 12 teams in the Quebec Division are located in red zones which are not allowed to play team sports.

The Atlantic Division is still playing but Moncton isn't allowed to play as it has returned to a red zone as a result of a recent outbreak.

It's quite a mess haha.

 

[Spoiled Bratt]

The QMJHL has suspended play in the Quebec Division for now. Quebec has their second wave hitting, and 6 of 12 teams in the Quebec Division are located in red zones which are not allowed to play team sports.

The Atlantic Division is still playing but Moncton isn't allowed to play as it has returned to a red zone as a result of a recent outbreak.

It's quite a mess haha.

It’s definitely a shit show over here!!!

 

[Blackjack]

Covid is roaring back. I wouldn't be surprised to see play get suspended in many places if not everywhere. Ugh.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Nico center with Foote and Mercer flanking him . Unless Foote and Mercer both play same wing ? On paper it sounds like it would be a very good future line . Have Hughes with Holtz .
Split up some grit and go :
Xxx Nico Mercer
Foote Hughes Holtz

I’m obviously biased but does that top 6 not look deadly in 2-3 years....Just need a LW for Nico .

I honestly can see Foote-Hughes-Holtz being a real thing as early as 2021-22. Talk about a line with huge potential. And a Bratt-Nico-Mercer combo can be the rare shut-down defense-quality line which can also score a ton of points. It sure is more fun to think about than all this pandemic stuff.

 

[My3Sons]

He can play LW, plus he has great chemistry with Nico.

I know we all like the line of Bratt, Zacha, and Goose, but there's no guarantee that line stays intact.


That said, I do believe the Devils may end up re-signing Palms in the end, though.

So it could be him on the LW (does he play LW? I forget).

I think eventually I'd prefer Bratt be the seventh forward. I'd like someone with more size and strength to play with Nico and Mercer. Bratt as a fireman who can help anywhere on the wings with his versatility makes him an excellent seventh forward. Playing a third line role will generally keep him fresher with a little less ice time. I like Bratt a lot. I just see Nico's line eventually as the matchup line and I'd prefer a bit more grind on the LW.

 

[Unknown Caller]

I think eventually I'd prefer Bratt be the seventh forward. I'd like someone with more size and strength to play with Nico and Mercer. Bratt as a fireman who can help anywhere on the wings with his versatility makes him an excellent seventh forward. Playing a third line role will generally keep him fresher with a little less ice time. I like Bratt a lot. I just see Nico's line eventually as the matchup line and I'd prefer a bit more grind on the LW.

Bratt is a legitimate top 6 forward already, he should absolutely be put on a top 6 skill line and given big minutes.

 

[Nubmer6]

I think eventually I'd prefer Bratt be the seventh forward. I'd like someone with more size and strength to play with Nico and Mercer. Bratt as a fireman who can help anywhere on the wings with his versatility makes him an excellent seventh forward. Playing a third line role will generally keep him fresher with a little less ice time. I like Bratt a lot. I just see Nico's line eventually as the matchup line and I'd prefer a bit more grind on the LW.

So... like the next Brylin?

 

[Emperoreddy]

Reminder we got Mercer with the pick from the Hall trade for those who are really high on him.

 

[My3Sons]

Bratt is a legitimate top 6 forward already, he should absolutely be put on a top 6 skill line and given big minutes.

He can play with Zacha and whoever replaces Gusev or some other version of a scoring line. He's a very talented player. To me, a bit more beef and grit would round out the matchup line with Nico and Mercer. Just my thought. I'm not banging my shoe on the podium.

 

[Ol Dirty Bstrd]

Reminder we got Mercer with the pick from the Hall trade for those who are really high on him.

Sucks that it didn’t work out with Hall but Mercer and Bahl could turn out to be a hell of a return

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Sucks that it didn’t work out with Hall but Mercer and Bahl could turn out to be a hell of a return

we also still have their 3rd round pick in 2021 too...maybe they parlay that into another asset

 

[glenwo2]

I think eventually I'd prefer Bratt be the seventh forward. I'd like someone with more size and strength to play with Nico and Mercer. Bratt as a fireman who can help anywhere on the wings with his versatility makes him an excellent seventh forward. Playing a third line role will generally keep him fresher with a little less ice time. I like Bratt a lot. I just see Nico's line eventually as the matchup line and I'd prefer a bit more grind on the LW.

That's fair.

 

[glenwo2]

He can play with Zacha and whoever replaces Gusev or some other version of a scoring line. He's a very talented player. To me, a bit more beef and grit would round out the matchup line with Nico and Mercer. Just my thought. I'm not banging my shoe on the podium.

I hope you don't.

You could end up stubbing your toe in the process.

 

[My3Sons]

I hope you don't.

You could end up stubbing your toe in the process.

It's a Krushchev reference.

 

[glenwo2]

It's a Krushchev reference.

I don't know who that is but I like to be literal when I'm making corny jokes.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

I don't know who that is but I like to be literal when I'm making corny jokes.

Shoe-banging incident - Wikipedia

 

[Lou is God]

Reminder we got Mercer with the pick from the Hall trade for those who are really high on him.

Mercer is going to be a real thorn in the side of Yotes fans for years to come.


And I actually feel bad for their fans, what a crap team and organization to be rooting for. They're at the bottom of the barrel right note having basically start from scratch. I don't know how much longer they can stay in Arizona, did they ever get that new arena?

 

[Blackjack]

Mercer is going to be a real thorn in the side of Yotes fans for years to come.


And I actually feel bad for their fans, what a crap team and organization to be rooting for. They're at the bottom of the barrel right note having basically start from scratch. I don't know how much longer they can stay in Arizona, did they ever get that new arena?

I just can't get over the fact that they're a cap team with that roster. Good god.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Mercer is going to be a real thorn in the side of Yotes fans for years to come.


And I actually feel bad for their fans, what a crap team and organization to be rooting for. They're at the bottom of the barrel right note having basically start from scratch. I don't know how much longer they can stay in Arizona, did they ever get that new arena?

I feel bad, but when you hire an unqualified and rather shady GM like John Chayka, you're kind of asking for it. I really hoped that team would turn a corner after Chayka wore out his welcome, but then they went and started shopping a character guy and leader in Ekman-Larsson and went and used their first pick in the draft on the lowest-character kid in the entire draft.

I really don't see the light at the end of the tunnel for the Arizona Coyotes. They have a nice group of prospects and some decent talent on the NHL roster, but they've been run with no vision for so long and this is not exactly a market which is attracting NHL free agents. When the culture in the front office is toxic and filled with people who value analytic charts over character, you're just not going to win in the NHL.

 

[Eggtimer]

I honestly can see Foote-Hughes-Holtz being a real thing as early as 2021-22. Talk about a line with huge potential. And a Bratt-Nico-Mercer combo can be the rare shut-down defense-quality line which can also score a ton of points. It sure is more fun to think about than all this pandemic stuff.

I like those lines a lot !!