NHL 2020 Draft Profiles: Deadly In Transition, Dawson Mercer Tells Us He Would Love To Be Drafted By Philly

Photo Credit: Hickling Images/Elite Prospects

It’s never too early to start talking about the NHL Draft, and there will be many questions facing this young orange and black team come June. Some questions range from are they going to move up or back? Are the Flyers drafting for positional needs in the system, such as, Right-Handed Defenseman, and snipers? These are some very valid questions that people have.

In year’s past the Flyers relied heavily on Head Scout Chris Pryor, and the drafting guru in Ron Hextall for overall success during the draft. Gone are those days, as the Flyers have a General Manager that had a solid draft last year in Chuck Fletcher. With that being said, there’s a Right Winger that might catch the eye of Fletcher in the first round, and that is no other than a play making machine in Dawson Mercer. Mercer can also play the Center position, as well, and he has all the skills to be a Flyer, “Shooting and skating take place after practice,” Mercer said, “In the off-season I try to build around fitness, building muscle to get stronger for the rigors of next year. It’s a tough sport, gotta get bigger.”

Mercer was born on October 27, 2001, in Carbonear, NL, CAN (AKA the motherland of hockey). This native of Canada found a passion, and a love for the sport of hockey at a very young age, and as a matter of fact he started skating when he was just 2-3 years old. His passion for the game found himself playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs for the 2019-20 season. At the young age of 18, he registered 14 goals, and 28 assists for a total of 42 points in 26 games played. After a beautiful start to the season he was traded to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens for two first round picks, two second round picks, a fourth round pick, and William Dufour talk about a haul.

This young man in Mercer is so darn talented, his hockey IQ ranks off the charts, he transitions with the best of them, he’s explosive as Mercer pushes the play up the ice, and can put the biscuit in the basket most importantly. He is a lethal goal scorer, but there is work that still needs to be done. Mercer has to be consistent, and he knows that, “I’m coming here to win right now,” Mercer said, “That’s a great mindset to have. I take the process day by day. I don’t want to get too far ahead in the future. There’s always work that needs to be done. My main goal is to improve, and become s better player each day. In the end run my main goal is to play in the NHL.”

Mercer continued, “My dad played the game, my family grew up playing sports. I had a hockey program back home, and my dad helped me when we weren’t playing. He gave me the little details.”

There is familiarity with drafting from the Sagueneens. A first round selection by the Flyers in 2016, German Rubtsov, used to play for the Sagueens. The Flyers are very familiar with this program. Mercer has all the tools to succeed in the NHL, and he’s potted three goals, and seven assists in just nine games played for the Sagueens, but the Flyers could very well steal this 6’0″ 179 sniper if he falls to their laps at the draft, “I model my game after Patrice Bergeron,” Mercer said, “He’s a complete two-way player. He scores big goals, wins faceoffs. I feel like he’s a player I play like.”

Mercer finishes the interview with poise, “I’m going to be happy I get drafted by the Flyers, great team there. I’d be happy for sure.” If Mercer is still on the board when the Flyers are selecting, more than likely amywheres from 16-20, the Flyers would be blessed to take this sniper in Mercer with their first round selection.