The New Jersey Devils needed someone to step up this season that wasn’t named Jack Hughes, Jesper Brat, or Nico Hischier. Thus far, Dawson Mercer is red-hot in what looks like a rebound season. Following the 2024-25 season, after he inked a new three-year deal, he finally looks like the version of the player we saw in 2022-23, when he scored 27 goals and nearly 60 points.
Through 15 games, Mercer’s scored eight goals and 15 points, scoring at a point per-game pace.
Spittin’ Chiclets co-host/producer Pasha Eshghi told Devils beat reporter James Nichols that Dawson Mercer’s surge this season was simply a matter of timing—and execution.
“It was more just like, all right, it’s time. It’s time to kind of step up again,” Eshghi said. “He had such a good year a couple of years ago, he kind of went quiet, and it’s like, all right, it’s your time now to perform.”
Mercer is a Swiss-Army knife. He plays on both special teams units, and covers all ground, offensively and defensively, at five-on-five.
The biggest difference to Eshghi is Mercer’s foot speed.
“I’ve noticed that he looks quicker,” said Eshghi. “I don’t know if that’s physically he’s gained a step, or he’s just moving his feet more on purpose, because I felt like he was standing around a lot in years past, and now I feel like his motor is constantly moving, which obviously is a good thing.”
Mercer’s versatility could almost hurt him to a fault at times. However, he’s more consistently stuck in the top-6 alongside Nico Hischier and Timo Meier.
It’s certainly working to Mercer’s advantage.
“I think Mercer, despite what they wanted him to be originally, I think he’s a winger,” Eshghi explained. “I think he’s better suited to play wing. I know he hit the slot in for the 3C role when Glass was hurt, but I think he’s best suited as a winger. And obviously, the numbers speak for themselves. He’s been incredible.”
In his best season through his four-plus year career, Mercer made the most noise around the net. He’s back to work at the top of the crease and in the oppositions slot this season. Mercer’s found ways to recover more pucks for chances in the offensive zone, and it’s clearly showing on the scoresheet.
“When I watch him play, it feels like around the net, like he’s kind of got a magnet stick,” Eshghi said. “I feel like he wins puck battles. Pucks stick to his stick. He kind of, he’s always wrapping them around, following to the net. I think that’s one of his good traits around the net.”
However, this season has been a bit different. He’s still scoring around the net, but Mercer’s also figured out his shot a bit. He’s buried pucks from a bit more distance, expanding his repertoire of scoring habits.
“This year, actually, he’s had a lot of goals from further out, like one-timers or snipes,” Eshghi said. “So, you know, if you can continue to play that way, I think it’s huge for the Devils.”
The Devils’ second line at this point could be plenty of teams’ first line. The trio of forwards are one of the hardest working lines, making them effective in all three zones on the ice.
“[Mercer, Meier, and Hischier] all do the dirty work,” Eshghi said. “You look at Hischier, that guy takes a beating every night. I know that physically he’s not the biggest guy, but he plays a big man’s game, takes a beating, goes to the hard areas. And then, yeah, Timo is a beast. He’s just throwing the body around, protects the puck so well—like you saw on the tying goal [vs. the Canadiens], how he crashes the net.”
The result is a line that rarely loses possession.
“Those three guys on that line, they don’t lose many puck battles. And you know, the results speak for themselves.”
With Mercer’s motor running hot and his finish sharpening, Eshghi sees a winger hitting his prime—and a line that’s only getting started.
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