The dog days of summer are always the toughest for NHL fans. The absence of news, podcasts, and hockey games can make the wait feel endless.
The silver lining is that we're less than 70 days away from the start of the NHL season.
For New Jersey Devils fans, there's still a lot of anticipation. They're eagerly awaiting news about Dawson Mercer's contract extension.
Today, we're going to try to guess what his contract terms might look like, based on what other players of his age, skill level, and contract status have received.
At 22 years old, RFA forward Dawson Mercer is expected to sign before the season begins. But what kind of contract will he be offered?
By looking at other NHL players in similar positions, we can get an idea. For example, Shane Pinto with the Ottawa Senators and Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Pinto has a two-year deal worth $7.5 million, while Marchenko has a three-year contract worth $3.85 million.
It's unlikely that Mercer will be offered as high an average annual value (AAV) as Marchenko because the Devils' doing a very good job at setting an internal cap. Which means he might be in the range of a bridge deal.
It wouldn't be out of the question for Mercer to sign a two-year bridge deal with an AAV of around $3 million. This could set both him and the team up for a lucrative contract once his bridge deal expires.