I'd think Mercer would certainly take that. In my ideal world the down year gets him as low as 5.5x8 and we reap the benefits for years to come. And then on the bridge I'd expect something in the 3s. Who knows how NJD plays it tho

Could honestly be a blessing in disguise. No matter what the rest of the team did, we weren't winning **** with an injured Jack Hughes and no dougie hamilton. Making the extensions cheaper just helps for future years

I don’t think he takes a deal that runs him past 30.

Probably whatever takes him to age 28 if you want a such a lower AAV

Yeah maybe. There's not many comps out there to use. I'd have him certainly below Boldy/Cozens.

Farabee might be the best one for a 22 year old?

So basically Mercer was better last year and Pinto was better this year.

The only reason I think Ottawa would do the deal for the tenth pick is if they believed that the relationship with Pinto is not repairable and he will leave in free agency / refuse to sign a contract.

Otherwise, I see them keeping him

Yes. But Mercer's peak was also higher. And he has 3 years of quality play under his belt at age 22.

I honestly didn't realize how productive mercer was at age 19 and 20 (by evolving hockey age ranges) in terms of primary point production. He didn't get PP1 time so his overall totals are stunted, but at even strength here is every player from the past 15 years to have more EV primary points than Mercer:

McDavid, Kane, Elias Pettersson, Tavares, Stamkos, Matthews, Wyatt Johnson (he might be him). That's the whole list

i know this was posted 17 hours ago so nothing on you, h e just said in end of season media availability that he wants t stay in OTT long term

Saros aint worth a top 20 pick yet alone adding more

That’s good news for Ottawa.