Mercer expected to go in first round of different NHL draft
Likely to follow NFL’S lead, there will be no handshaking, interviews or pulling on ballcaps in this NHL draft
Dawson Mercer is as much in the dark about the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and how it’s going to unfold as much as anyone, but he is fairly certain about this: It will be a draft unlike all others.
There’s a very good chance Mercer of Bay Roberts, expected to be a first-round selection, and consensus No. 1 pick Alexis Lafreniere, won’t be shaking hands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman as the draft picks have done years previous. There will be no tugging on baseball caps and smiling for photos with teams execs.
There will be no interviews with the cable television networks.
This will be a different draft, if there even is one. Thanks to COVID-19.
For starters, the NHL doesn’t even know when the draft is scheduled.
Originally set for June 26-27 in Montreal, those plans were scrapped back in March. This past weekend, deputy commissioner Bill Daly raised the idea of a draft in early June, even with the season in an indefinite suspension.
The NHL, however, is still hoping to stage a Stanley Cup final, maybe even this summer. That would mean a draft before the season is done, which left some NHL people grousing.
The idea is to have hockey in the spotlight, and to give broadcast partners TSN and Sportsnet something to air.
“My thought is,” Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman told reporters regarding a draft before the season is officially done, “is, ‘Why would you do that? Why do you need to do that?’
“I haven’t heard a good reason why we should do it prior to the end of the season, if we do conclude the season over the course of the summer.”
Another reason for the possibility of an early June draft is the NFL’S successful virtual draft held last month.
That draft was held via videoconferencing, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell broadcasting picks from his home.
“It would be nice to enjoy the full experience of the draft, to walk up on stage, meet everyone, including the commissioner,” Mercer said. “But health and safety is primary right now.”
Things are about to change in the days and weeks leading up to the draft. There will be no meeting face-to-face with NHL teams, no Draft Combine when players work out for teams and numerous interviews are conducted.
Rather, NHL teams will have to rely on their earlyseason scouting, and it’s here where Mercer has an advantage.
He performed very well in the CIBC Canada-russia Series, scored in the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and made Canada’s world junior team which won gold in the Czech Republic.
He registered 42 points in 26 games with the Drummondville Voltigeurs before getting traded to Chicoutimi after the world juniors, where he accumulated another 18 points in 16 outings.
The Sagueneens were loading up for a run at the President’s Cup league championship until the pandemic shut down the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season.
“I’m happy with the performance I’ve had this season,” he said. “I feel my game progressed and improved, with the potential to keep going up.
“I was given different roles in different situations, and think I was able embrace them and deliver.”
If there is a downside, Mercer, who enters the draft as the 10th-ranked player amongst North American skaters by the NHL’S Central Scouting Bureau, won’t be sitting across a table from NHL team officials during draft interviews.
He’s an engaging individual, who enjoys conversing, be it with media or hockey people. He was a finalist for the QMJHL’S Paul Dumont Trophy as personality of the year. The Dumont Trophy recognizes individuals who had a positive media impact and helped improve the league’s image throughout the season.
“Whether it’s Facetime or Zoom, NHL teams are still getting a good insight into who I am,” he said. “It really feels one-on-one with the guys during those interviews, feels like you’re in the room.
“I’m well-spoken and able to communicate with others, and I think that shows the qualities of maturity and leadership, on the ice and off the ice.
“But I would have liked to have enjoyed the experience of the Combine, and have all the interviews.”