The New Jersey Devils needed the Dawson Mercer of old when they did not make any meaningful changes to the forward group this past offseason and, so far, the team might be getting even more than what it had bargained for.
Through 25 games, Mercer, 24, has 10 goals, 10 assists, and 20 points, putting him on pace for 33 goals, 33 assists, and 66 points over the course of a full 82-game season.
Of course, the former first-round pick had underwhelmed with consecutive 30-point seasons after a promising 56-point breakout campaign in 2022-23. Now, though, it seems like Mercer is finally returning to, or even growing past, that form of three seasons ago.