Devils Need to Give Dawson Mercer a Permanent Role on the Third Line

Throughout the offseason, much of the New Jersey Devils’ biggest uncertainties have been resolved. A complete overhaul by general manager (GM) Sunny Mehta resulted in changes to their front office, goaltending, and bottom six. On paper, their roster is starting to look dangerous, but only time will tell if the team is up to the task of a bounce-back campaign.

More recently, they signed veteran forward Anthony Mantha to a two-year contract, solidifying scoring on their top lines. However, this major addition to their core group provides the opportunity for other shakeups on the Devils’ bench.

Considering Connor Brown’s previous success on the first line and Arseny Gritsyuk’s explosive rookie campaign, it’s fair to say that both players could receive top-six ice time. But where does that leave Dawson Mercer? Here’s my case as to why he could be better suited for a permanent role as a third-line wing this season.

Why It Would Complement Mercer’s Skill Set

At just 24 years old, Mercer has immense versatility, easily shifting between wing and center. But arguably his biggest value lies in his dependability. Since his NHL debut in 2021, he has appeared in all 82 games for five consecutive seasons, becoming an even bigger asset while the Devils dealt with countless injuries.

Last season, he reached the 20-goal threshold for the third time in his career, while also playing a solid two-way game. He even logged significant minutes on the power play and penalty kill, setting a career high of three shorthanded goals. Keeping all of this in mind, Mercer’s skill set could bolster the Devils’ third line.

Rather than attempting to drive play on the first or second line, he could provide something their middle-six has lacked in recent seasons: stability and depth scoring. In the past, switching between wing and center often resulted in offensive lapses for Mercer, so having a more permanent role could help him find consistency.

Based on PuckPedia’s current roster projections, newcomer Evan Rodrigues is expected to center the third line — leaving Mercer to play right wing, which is his preferred position. Rodrigues is known for his elite playmaking and puckhandling abilities, while Mercer thrives when paired with someone who can set him up in front of the net. Essentially, Rodrigues will be able to drive play and create scoring chances, with Mercer acting as a complementary finisher.

Increased Scoring Opportunities

It’s worth mentioning that Mercer spent the majority of his ice time last season with Nico Hischier and Timo Meier — a trio that often played the toughest minutes against opponents’ top lines. Last season, the Meier-Hischier-Mercer line recorded 67.06 shot attempts every 60 minutes, but only scored an average of 1.76 goals.

If Mercer managed to hit the 20-goal mark while playing on such a defense-heavy line, imagine his potential production on the Devils’ third line. Without his previous shutdown responsibilities, he could focus more on generating offense and shooting.

Some recent stats also indicate that a lighter workload on the third line could be the answer. According to NHL Edge, he ranked in the 82nd percentile for shots on goal last season, but finished below the league average in both shooting percentage (S%) and offensive zone time.

Not only would the team benefit from having one of their most reliable players on the third line, but Mercer would have the chance to make a bigger impact this season. To put things into perspective, only five players scored 20 goals for the Devils in 2025-26, putting him in elite company. Having a proven goalscorer on the third line could bring the team one step closer to Stanley Cup contention.

2026-27 Performance Will Be Critical

Much like the rest of the Devils’ roster, Mercer could benefit from a change of pace. Now that he’s entering the final year of his bridge deal, he has one last chance to prove that he deserves to stay with the franchise long-term. With Mehta unafraid to take initiative in moving underperforming players, 2026-27 marks a do-or-die campaign for Mercer.

As always, his value is a major topic of debate. The biggest question remaining is whether he can return to his 2022-23 form, when he tallied 27 goals and 56 points. So far, he’s been unable to match the numbers from his breakout campaign.

There was plenty of speculation ahead of last season’s trade deadline, and he remains a highly coveted bargaining chip this offseason. With an affordable cap hit of $4 million and zero trade protection in his contract, there’s still a possibility that he could be dealt as part of a larger package. But at the moment, the only scenario that seems likely would be moving him to acquire a big name, specifically another top-six forward or an elite goaltender.

Taking on a permanent position as a third-line wing could solidify his role within the Devils’ organization once and for all. But either way, his performance this season will dictate whether or not his future lies with New Jersey.

Offseason and Beyond

Already, the Devils are shaping up to be a team to watch this season. Their latest additions and solid core of star players can take the club far, provided that they find chemistry and consistency.

Mercer remains one of the most intriguing players on their roster. If he can find success in a middle-six role, he’ll add invaluable secondary scoring, addressing an issue that the team has struggled with for the last few seasons. Should he have another 20-goal campaign in 2026-27, there’s no doubt that the Devils need to consider extending him come next summer.