PROSPECT PROFILE: Dawson Mercer

EDMONTON, AB - Dawson Mercer will look to join fellow forwards like Michael Ryder, Dan Cleary, Ryane Clowe and Teddy Purcell as Newfoundland-born players to enjoy successful NHL careers.
The 18-year-old from Carbonear on The Rock is the 10th-ranked North American skater by Central Scouting heading into the 2020 NHL Draft (Oct. 6-7) on the heels of an exceptional QMJHL campaign split between the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Chicoutimi Sagueneens.
Mercer scored 18 goals and 24 assists in 26 games with the Voltigeurs to start the 2019-20 season before making Team Canada for the 2020 World Junior Championship as the third-youngest player on the squad and eventually capturing a gold medal.
The right-winger/centreman was dealt to the Sagueneens immediately following World Juniors on Jan. 6 and scored six goals with 12 assists in 16 games before the QMJHL season was ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 84 total regular season and playoff games with the Voltigeurs in 2018-19, Mercer scored 35 goals and 45 assists as Drummondville advanced all the way to the QMJHL semifinals before bowing out to the Halifax Mooseheads.
"He's a true competitor," NHL Central Scouting's QMJHL correspondent Jean-Francois Damphousse told NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "He's passionate and loves playing the game. He's got a wicked release and can score from different angles. He can score on his one-timer, beat goalies from a distance with his wrist shot, and he battles with his two-way game."
Damphousse likened the 6-foot-0, 179-pound forward's skill-set to that of Boston Bruins stalwart Patrice Bergeron with his ability to produce offensively while also being an effective defensive presence.