As President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald stated last week, the New Jersey Devils accomplished several items off their “punch list.” Fitzgerald added size to their lineup, not only on defense but also on offense. The Devils also added a little violence to the lineup, something they were lacking. However, Fitzgerald’s work has not been done this off-season as he still needs to sign Dawson Mercer.
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Mercer is one of five restricted free agents the Devils tendered qualifying offers on June 30th. Along with Mercer, the Devils tendered forwards Nolan Foote and Adam Beckman, defenseman Santeri Hatakka, and goalie Nico Daws. Mercer had been the subject of trade talks throughout last season and even the previous season.
However, Tom Fitzgerald would not let him go and will now focus on getting him an extension.
“We’ll get to those guys in short order,” Fitzgerald said on Wednesday. “You get through the draft and the next thing you know, you’re cramming for free agency. RFAs are the last on the totem pole because they’re not going anywhere. We’ll get to those guys.”
Fitzgerald sees Mercer as a part of the Devils’ long-term success, but it will come down to terms and dollars.
“His agent and I knew knew after July 1 we would keep it going. Mercer is a long-term player for us, but where we go with term is going to be judged on the dollars, and we only have so much money to spend. I like the fact that where we project him to be still gives us flexibility with our cap to continue to accrue and possibly add down the road.”
According to PuckPedia.com, the Devils have $4.98 million to spend to get Mercer an extension and sign these other RFAs to contracts. There is not a lot of room. Mercer had a cap hit of $894,167, which will go up. If you look at the contract, his AAV is around $1.3 million.
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By how much, it all depends on what Mercer’s agent and the player value themselves at, not to mention the team.
If you look at what Shane Pinto just signed for in Ottawa, that is the closest comparable. Pinto signed a two-year deal with an AAV of $3.75 million. You could argue that Mercer deserves that based on his stats alone.
Mercer was one of six Devils to score at least 20 goals last season and one of five to play all 82 games. He has played in all 82 games, and every year, he has been at the NHL level. Since bursting on to the scene, Mercer has been an excellent addition to the Devils lineup. In his first season, Mercer recorded 42 points (17 goals and 25 assists).
The following season, he set career highs in all three categories with 56 points (27 goals and 29 assists). Last year was a step back for Mercer with 33 points (20 goals and 13 assists). In addition, Mercer has produced seven points (three goals and four assists) in 12 playoff games, all coming with the Devils in 2023.
However, with the Devils having just under $5 million to sign five players, Mercer will probably get a two- or three-year bridge deal somewhere in the $2 million range. Maybe at the AAV of Kaapo Kakko at $2.4 million. This allows the Devils to see his potential and plan for when the salary cap increases.
However, Tom Fitzgerald likes his hierarchy, and this bridge deal will allow him to get paid for the next deal to stay with the Devils. It is a risk, but New Jersey apparently wants Dawson Mercer to be a part of their future, so they will have to pay him.
