Rumors : A former QMJHL player could receive an offer sheet

A few days before the start of NHL training camps, several young established players are still without professional contract, including one who made his mark in the QMJHL before joining the New Jersey Devils, Dawson Mercer.

These restricted free agents (RFAs) have been unable to reach an agreement with their team's general manager. In theory, they remain without a contract and could potentially join another team, on one condition: if another team submits an offer sheet.

The list of unsigned RFAs is quite surprising and enticing for general managers. It notably includes defenseman Moritz Seider and forwards Cole Perfetti and Dawson Mercer.

The latter is reportedly a topic of conversation among several team executives, as his attitude, scoring ability, and intensity in all three zones could benefit many teams looking to add depth to their top-6 or even top-9 forwards. According to a recent report by Martin Leclerc on BPM Sports, several teams are even considering making him an offer sheet.

Teams Considering an offer sheet for Dawson Mercer: A Scoop from Martin Leclerc

Here's his exact statement:

It's clear! There's a gap between the expectations of Dawson Mercer's agent and the New Jersey Devils' willingness to pay. The organization likely wants to sign him to a long-term deal, ideally for seven or eight years, similar to what the Montreal Canadiens did with Juraj Slafkovsky. However, this is currently impossible for the team's general manager due to a lack of salary cap space. GM Tom Fitzgerald has only $5.75 million available under the cap, but he knows that Dawson Mercer is easily worth $6.5 to $7 million per year on a seven- or eight-year contract.

Could a two-year deal worth $10 to $11 million be a feasible solution? It's not impossible...

A bridge contract between his entry-level deal and a long-term one remains the most likely option for now. Both sides could take inspiration from the deal signed by Shane Pinto, which earned him an annual salary of $3.75 million for two seasons. But is that really what Mercer's camp wants?

This type of contract is usually accepted when a player has been somewhat disappointing or hasn't shown that they can be a top-6 player in the short, medium, or long term. However, Dawson Mercer has already demonstrated that over the past two seasons.

This is why the idea of an offer sheet is becoming increasingly attractive to some teams. Mercer's ceiling appears to be even higher than what he has shown so far. The Radio-Canada journalist reminds us that the 22-year-old has never missed a game in his three NHL seasons, a rare feat in the modern NHL. He has also produced like few players have during their first three seasons in the league, tallying 131 points, including 64 goals, in 246 games-a 43-point average per season! What makes Mercer even more appealing to team executives is the fact that 54 of his 64 goals were scored at 5-on-5, a noteworthy aspect considering how difficult it is to score at even strength.

One downside to making an offer sheet is that the general manager will likely have to forfeit their 2025 first-round pick. This must be the team's original first-round pick, not one acquired via trade. So, we can likely rule out the last 5 to 10 teams in the standings based on current projections, as this pick cannot be protected. You won't see teams like the San Jose Sharks or Chicago Blackhawks giving up their shot at the James Hagens lottery.

If we put ourselves in the shoes of the Montreal Canadiens, as Anthony Desaulniers mentioned during Martin Leclerc's segment on BPM Sports, the cost would have been enormous in 2024. The Canadiens would have lost their rights to Ivan Demidov. Let's just say this player is expected to help the team reach the playoffs.

Would that be the case for the Canadiens?

Source: HABSolumentFanMartin Leclerc croit qu'une autre offre hostile se prépare dans la LNH

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