Devils, first-round pick Dawson Mercer agree to three-year, entry-level contract

Though he can’t actually sign because he’s locked away in the World Junior Championship bubble, Dawson Mercer has agreed to terms on his three-yea,r entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils.

Mercer, the 18th overall pick this fall, is a returning player for Canada at the WJC after winning gold with the team last year. He wasn’t able to register a single point during that tournament, but he should be asked to do much more this time around (especially now that Kirby Dach has been ruled out). The Chicoutimi Sagueneens star has seven points in five QMJHL games this season and will likely return to juniors after the tournament ends.

A shifty, dynamic playmaker, the 19-year-old winger should be able to transition to the professional level easily if given offensive minutes and power-play time. There doesn’t need to be any rush for that though as he focuses on winning a second gold medal and then (hopefully) completing his junior season. The entry-level deal will not actually kick in this season, sliding forward instead as long as he doesn’t play in seven NHL games.