PAST DEVILS PODCASTS
SPEAK OF THE DEVILS PODCAST
New Jersey Devils Official Podcast
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Luke Hughes | Speak of the Devils
Chase Stillman
Bryant McBride
Utica Devils head coach Kevin Dineen
2021 Draft Recap
Scott Clemmensen
Nico Daws
Duggan Joins the Devils
Robert Esch
Jonas Siegenthaler](https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/podcast-siegenthaler-on-thai-heritage-breaking-nhl-barriers/c-324528536)
Nolan Foote](https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/podcast-nolan-following-his-fathers-foote-steps/c-324183022)
Ty Smith](https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/podcast-smith-on-his-rookie-year-hughes-as-a-roommate-and-more/c-324030122)
GM Fitzgerald and Subban
Tyce Thompson](https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/podcast-thompson-never-doubted-he-would-play-in-nhl/c-323534156)
The Original Devil: Chico Resch
Sherry Ross
Mercer was one of the lucky hockey players in Canada who saw his league return to action well before others. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League had a few shut-down periods along the way, but Mercer did get in 23 games with Chicoutimi, and saw the offensive side of his game showcased with 19 goals and 36 points.
"I had a lot of quarantines," he joked, but it was also very true. Mercer, off the top of his head, thinks he did around 12-14 weeks of quarantine during the last year because of league shutdowns and provincial and federal laws in Canada.
"I can't remember which one, which number it was, but I did a lot of them," he said. "Overall, it was pretty good. I got around 40 games this year, which was a good amount compared to other players. And it ended up being good."
Roughly 40 games because he was part of the Hockey Canada team that competed at the World Juniors, where Canada took home a silver medal. He returned to Chicoutimi after for a playoff run and more games in the postseason.
"I experienced a lot this year, (it was a) different season, obviously," he said. "You could be practicing for two weeks and not playing until the next week. And so, it was pretty fortunate for me."
When he finally does make that jump to the NHL, Mercer knows what type of player he wants to be. He looks up to Patrice Bergeron, the captain of the Boston Bruins, as a mold he believes he fits into. Bergeron also played in the QMJHL, his first season was in 2001, the year Dawson was born.
"He's obviously (been) an unbelievable player in this league for a long time," Mercer said, "And he's that complete, two-way forward, that can do whatever you want, whatever role and he can bring a lot of offense, but then he's out there taking these draws, and all that responsibility that a lot of players would like to have. So that's type of player I've been trying to model my game after; be responsible defensively, but then also transition and be able to create a lot of offense and be relied on in different situations."
If the Devils have a Bergeron-like player in Mercer, they've hit a jackpot with their 18th-overall pick from 2020. There's no doubt Devils management are looking forward to seeing Dawson in a professional environment, whether it be with the Devils or with the Comets in Utica. He will be a player they closely have their eye on during the 2021 training camp.
"(Dawson is) the guy we're so excited about," Devils assistant general manager and GM of Utica Dan MacKinnon said earlier this summer, "because you just know he's going to be able to step in and have a pretty well-rounded, mature pro-style game right away, but also the skill to produce points and not just be a checker."
That chance is right around the corner, a full junior career under his belt and in his rearview mirror, the professional game awaits the 19-year-old, who, wherever he ends up this season, be it Utica or New Jersey, has just one goal in mind.
"I want to be I want to be good at it all."
