Dawson Mercer is one of the top free agents still available.
Despite a less impressive season, New Jersey wants to keep him for a long time. But money might be an issue. The 22-year-old had his worst season so far but still scored 20 goals and made 13 assists in all 82 games. With better performances in his first two seasons, a long-term deal seems reasonable.
Comparing him to others like Joel Farabee and Travis Konecny, Mercer’s stats are superior. Farabee and Konecny signed deals worth $5M and $5.5M respectively. Using cap percentages, Mercer’s deal could range between $5.333M and $5.94M . Other similar players include Anton Lundell ($5M) and Nick Schmaltz ($5.875M). Most of these contracts were six years long; only Schmaltz signed for seven years. A six-year contract for Mercer might fit well at around high-$5M per year, covering two UFA years.
Contract Challenges:
Affording even a six-year contract is tough right now for the Devils who have about $4.976M in cap space with a projected roster of 22 players according to PuckPedia. They could carry fewer players to save money but that risks injury problems later on.
They also need room for potential bonuses for Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes which could be over $5M combined if earned . Plus, they want some flexibility for mid-season moves.
Given the tight budget, signing Mercer long-term isn’t possible without trading someone important from their current roster — something not easily done as many teams are close to their cap limits too.
Fans might think this situation sounds tricky!
A bridge contract seems more likely now — maybe a two-year deal at around $3.5M per season would work better, giving GM Tom Fitzgerald some breathing room with at least $1M left over heading into fall .
If both sides agree on short-term terms or wait until closer to training camp hoping an injury gives them leverage or more cash opportunities — it wouldn’t be unusual since these things can drag out sometimes when coming off entry-level deals if unsigned by now .
Despite last year’s dip in performance , Mercer remains crucial for New Jersey’s future plans though he may need that bridge deal before getting core player paychecks later on .
What do you think? Should they go short-term or find another way?
