Mercer scored a goal and an assist in Monday's 3-2 win over the Kraken. He also recorded three shots on goal and a plus-2 rating.
Mercer cracked the scoresheet for the first time since finding the back of the net in a 4-2 win over the Hurricanes on Dec. 27. He has five points (three goals, two helpers) across his last seven appearances. He seems on pace to reach the career-high 43 points he notched as a rookie in 2021-22, when he posted 42 points across 82 games.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Scores in victory
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Mercer netted a goal on his only shot in 17:56 of ice time in Friday's 4-2 win over the Hurricanes.
Mercer buried a rebound from a Jack Hughes shot to put New Jersey up 4-2 in the middle stanza. Mercer has scored in back-to-back games after being held off the scoresheet in three prior outings. The right-shot winger would need more consistency to be a trusted asset for fantasy managers, but he's a solid depth option in most formats. Mercer has provided nine goals (two game-winners), 10 helpers, 12 PIM, 62 shots and a plus-8 rating while averaging 18:03 of ice time through 38 appearances.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Racks up two points in win
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Mercer recorded a power-play goal and a power-play assist during Monday's 5-0 win over the Rangers.
Mercer assisted on the Devils' first of three power-play goals early in the second period of Monday's matchup and recorded the team's final tally of the game in the third period, which also came with the man advantage. Although the 23-year-old helped to capitalize on the Devils' power-play opportunities Monday, he's gotten on the scoresheet in just two of the last nine games. Across 37 appearances this year, Mercer has logged eight goals, 10 assists, 26 blocked shots and 18 hits while averaging 18:03 of ice time.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Two points despite recent struggles
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Mercer had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over Chicago on Saturday.
Mercer bounced right back after taking a puck to the face in Thursday's game against the Kings. The goal was his seventh of the season. Mercer has struggled offensively, earning just two goals, three assists and 20 shots in his last 13 games. He has seven goals, nine assists and 53 shots in 33 appearances this season. The Devils need more from their second-line right winger. Mercer is still young, and he can develop his game. However, fantasy managers need him to contribute more before inserting him into lineups.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Good to go Saturday
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Mercer (face) will play Saturday against Chicago, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Mercer needed stitches after taking a puck to the face in Thursday's game against Los Angeles, but the 23-year-old forward will be back in action Saturday. Mercer has six goals and 14 points through 32 games this season.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Gets stitches after puck to face
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Mercer (face) required stitches after he was struck by a puck in the third period of Thursday's game against the Kings, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
There was no other update on Mercer's status, leaving him in doubt for Saturday's game versus the Blackhawks. If he misses that contest, Tomas Tatar is likely to draw back into the lineup. Mercer has contributed 14 points over 32 outings this season.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Scores in Monday's win
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Mercer scored a goal in Monday's 5-1 win over the Rangers.
Mercer ended a seven-game goal drought, a span in which he had two assists. His tally Monday stood as the game-winner. Mercer is filling a middle-six role, earning 14 points, 45 shots on net, 21 blocked shots and a plus-8 rating over 28 appearances. While that's a better pace than he had in 2023-24 (33 points in 82 contests), his limited power-play role and lack of consistency put him on the edge of being a fantasy option in standard formats.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Sets up game-winner
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Mercer produced an assist in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Hurricanes.
Mercer continues to quietly make an impact in a supporting role, picking up four points over his last six games. His helper Thursday set up Dougie Hamilton's game-winning goal halfway through the third period. Mercer has five goals, seven assists, 37 shots on net, 19 blocked shots and a plus-8 rating through 22 appearances in a middle-six role this season.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Scores Saturday
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Mercer scored a goal and took three shots in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Islanders.
Mercer scored for the first time since New Jersey's 6-0 victory over Vancouver on Oct. 30, and while he's lacked consistency on a game-to-game basis, he's been doing great recently. The 23-year-old playmaker has registered points in four of his last six games, tallying two multi-point efforts in that span while racking two goals and four assists.
Mercer scored a shorthanded goal on three shots, added an assist, blocked two shots and went plus-3 in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Canucks.
Mercer and Nico Hischier set each other up on the Devils' first two goals in the blowout win. Things are looking up for Mercer after his second multi-point effort in a row. The 23-year-old is up to seven points, 20 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and a plus-10 rating over 13 appearances this season. Mercer plays in all situations, including top-six minutes at even strength and a spot on the second power-play unit.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Produces two assists
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Mercer recorded two assists and went plus-3 in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Ducks.
Mercer helped out on second-period tallies by Jack Hughes and Paul Cotter. It's been a shaky start to the campaign for Mercer, who has five points over 12 games after earning his first multi-point effort of the year Sunday. He's added 17 shots on net, 10 blocked shots and a plus-7 rating while seeing top-six minutes.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Nets goal in overtime loss
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Mercer scored a goal on two shots, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Capitals.
Mercer has had an uneven start to the campaign despite consistently playing in a top-six role. His goal Saturday was his second tally and third point of the season, and he's added a modest 10 shots on net, eight blocked shots and a plus-4 rating across eight appearances. Mercer was limited to 33 points during the 2023-24 regular season, down from his 56-point breakout in 2022-23, and his offense isn't trending in the right direction this season.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Pots empty-netter
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Mercer tallied an empty-net goal during Saturday's 5-3 win over the Capitals.
Mercer has his first goal of the season and has two points in the first four games. The 22-year-old will be relied upon as a top-six winger for the balance of the season and could be a worthwhile add for fantasy managers once he can become a more consistent offensive producer.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Picks up helper Friday
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Mercer generated an assist in Friday's 4-1 win over the Sabres in Prague.
Mercer was an unsigned restricted free agent until early in training camp. That always carries some risk, but it's encouraging that Mercer began the year with a helper while filling a second-line role in the season opener. He had a down year with 33 points, 134 shots on net and a minus-26 rating in 2023-24, but the 22-year-old has also displayed fantastic durability by not missing a game in his career to date. If he can keep his top-six spot, Mercer has excellent bounce-back potential.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Snags three-year deal
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Mercer agreed to terms on a three-year, $12 million contract with New Jersey on Friday, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.
Mercer is coming off back-to-back 20 goals seasons but also posted the lowest point total (33) of his three-year NHL career, which likely played a role in this deal taking so long to finalize. With the 22-year-old now under contract, he should get onto the ice with his teammates soon -- though he may not suit up in Sunday's preseason opener against the Islanders. Still, Mercer figures to be in the mix for both a top-six and power-play role this year and could challenge for the 30-goal threshold.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Won't report to camp
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Mercer will not be available for the start of training camp due to his ongoing contract dispute, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports Wednesday.
Mercer and the Devils are reportedly close to a new deal but until the restricted free agent is signed, he won't be able to get onto the ice with his teammates. Once he puts pen to paper, the 22-year-old natural center should be in the mix for a top-six role, though he could face a strong challenge from Tomas Tatar for a second-line spot.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Slumps in year three
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Mercer finished the 2023-24 season with 20 goals and 33 points in 82 games.
Mercer's sophomore slump came a year late, as he finished with the lowest point total of his three-year career. The 2020 first-round draft pick also had a career-worst minus-26 rating, and he posted his lowest shot total (134) despite seeing a career high in average ice time (17:13). On the bright side, Mercer still hasn't missed a game in his NHL career, and he'll be a bounce-back candidate next season after posting point totals of 42 and 56 in his first two campaigns. Mercer will be a restricted free agent this offseason after the expiration of his entry-level contract.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Lights lamp twice in win
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Mercer scored two goals in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Penguins.
The 22-year-old opened the scoring early in the first period before adding another tally in the third as New Jersey blew the game open. Mercer had just two goals over the prior 16 games, his only points during that stretch, and on the season he's up to 19 goals and 30 points through 69 contests.
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Devils' Dawson Mercer: Tallies in blowout win
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Mercer scored a goal on two shots in Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Sharks.
Mercer had one of the Devils' four goals in the third period, snapping a six-game point drought in the process. The 22-year-old is up to 16 goals, 27 points, 101 shots on net and a minus-18 rating through 59 appearances. Mercer has struggled since the Devils got healthy at forward, and his current third-line role with limited power-play time doesn't bode well for him turning things around.
