Jets’ Mercer Finding His Stride Through 10 Games With New Team

Heave away, me jollies! Dawson Mercer has found his stride with the Winnipeg Jets.

The 25-year-old forward, one of the key pieces acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the trade that sent disgruntled goaltender Connor Hellebuyck the other way three weeks ago, has heated up in a big way over the past few games.

Returns on Mercer Strong Through 10 Games

Playing on the second line right wing alongside Brayden Yager and Cole Perfetti and also drawing time on the second power-play unit, Mercer has scored five goals — all in his past four games — and added three assists in his first 10 games with his new team.

He scored his first as a Jet in the Nov. 5 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks, then put up a pair of goals — the first-period game-opening tally and the third-period power-play eventual game winner — against his former team in the Nov. 10 4-2 victory in front of a rowdy Canada Life Centre crowd.

Most recently, he scored two of the Jets’ five second-period goals in the 8-3 Nov. 12 drubbing of the Dallas Stars, including a slick backhand breakaway marker in the dying seconds of the frame that stretched the Jets’ lead to 5-3.

“He finds places to get that stick open and get his shot off,” head coach Scott Arniel said after the victory of the Stars. “He’s confident now. I think the rust and newness of being on a new team is kind of gone and he looks like he’s real comfortable.”

Mercer’s slow start this season with the Devils — no goals and four assists in 10 games — continued when he joined the Jets as he posted a modest two assists in his first six games, but it was understandable considering the circumstances. He was traded to the Jets on Oct. 23, landed in Winnipeg late that same night, and was immediately thrust into not only all of the post-blockbuster-trade hoopla, but all all of the Heritage Classic hoopla as well. In fact, his first game was the outdoor game under the bright lights of Princess Auto Stadium.

But now, the three-time 20-goal scorer appears to have built chemistry with his linemates and is well on his way to potting that many for a fourth time. TSN’s Craig Button said in second intermission last night that he believes “the Winnipeg Jets may have found the second line they’ve been looking for for a couple of years,” and it’s hard to argue considering they’ve combined for 15 points over the five-game winning streak.

Mercer’s Presence Having Positive Impact on Lines Around Him

It’s no coincidence that the Jets’ fortunes began to improve when Mercer started surging. A complete lack of secondary scoring was a massive issue for them through their nine-game losing streak and even before that, but with the Perfetti/Yager/Mercer trio producing, the Jets are not a one-line team.

Mercer’s presence has taken some pressure off the Kyle Connor/Mark Scheifele/Gabriel Vilardi top line (although they just combined for four goals and nine points of their own against the Stars) and Yager’s strong play over five games since being called up from the Manitoba Moose has also allowed Arniel to re-assign 2026 eight-overall pick Viggo Bjorck to a less-demanding third-line winger role. Since being moved from second-line centre, the 18 year old has looked much more confident and has recorded four assists in his past five games after putting up zero points in his first 16.

How badly Hellebuyck handled himself over the past number of months — publicly demanding a trade, refusing to report, and failing to ever provide any specifics about why he wanted out of Winnipeg — is still a sore spot with Jets fans, as evidenced by how hostile Canada Life Centre was versus the Devils and how many creative chants they came up with (despite Hellebuyck not getting the start and hiding away in a video room during the game). However, if Mercer can provide a consistent offensive punch this season and beyond, it’ll certainly ease some of the pain.