New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: 2/23/21

Welcome to the 20th week of the 2020-21 New Jersey Devils prospect update! Dawson Mercer was finally able to resume his QMJHL season with Chicoutimi and he made it count by scoring a hat trick. The week was light in NCAA play due to the the COVID-19 situation. In the penultimate week of the KHL regular season, Daniil Misyul stepped up with a goal and solid minutes for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Nikola Pasic has found some good form in the SHL while Alexander Holtz continues to struggle to produce. Let’s check in on how each prospect performed over the past week.

QMJHL

Dawson Mercer and Chicoutimi resumed their season with a pair of midweek games last week. Mercer continued where he left off with 3 goals (2 EV, 1 SH), an assist, +3, 7 shots, and 53.49 FO% across both games. He also had a shootout goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout loss to Rouyn-Noranda. His 3 goals came as a hat trick in Thursday’s 8-2 victory over Drummondville. The game against Drummondville was special for Mercer as he not only played against his old team but got to play against his 16 year old brother, Riley Mercer, a goaltender for Drummondville. Riley Mercer came on in relief in the 3rd period after Dawson scored his 3rd goal against Francesco Lapenna. Check out Mercer’s hat trick below where he displays some nice moves, puck control, and his shot:

NCAA

Matt Hellickson was a +1 with 2 PIM and 2 shots across 2 games for Notre Dame against Wisconsin last weekend. His consecutive games streak is now up to an impressive 141 games which dates back to his freshman season. This has been his least productive offensive season though as his points per game rate over his college career has gone from 0.30 as a freshman, to 0.40 as a sophomore, to 0.43 as a junior, to 0.13 as a senior.

Aarne Talvitie and Penn State didn’t play last week as the team is still dealing with positive COVID-19 tests. They had already canceled their series against Arizona State that was supposed to happen last weekend. They have already gone ahead and canceled their upcoming series against Minnesota. Penn State last played on 1/29 against Notre Dame and has now seen 4 consecutive series (8 games) postponed or canceled. Their next scheduled game is 3/5 against Notre Dame.

Providence didn’t play last week so Tyce Thompson and Patrick Moynihan were off. They are set to play UMass tonight.

Case McCarthy had an even rating and 3 shots in Boston University’s 3-2 overtime victory over UConn last Saturday.

Artem Shlaine had an even rating, 2 PIM, 2 shots, and won 11/15 faceoffs in that loss for UConn. He has won 60.00% of his faceoffs this season which is tied for 10th in the NCAA. That success rate is tied for 2nd among freshman.

As mentioned earlier, the Arizona State - Penn State series was canceled last weekend. Cole Brady and ASU resume their season on Friday against Michigan.

USHL

Ethan Edwards was a -1 in Sioux City’s 6-2 loss to Fargo last Friday. He missed Saturday’s game but I haven’t found the reason for that yet.

Akira Schmid made 30 saves on 36 shots in that 6-2 loss to Fargo last Friday. 3 of the goals against came at even strength while the other 3 came when his team was down a man.

Russia

KHL

VHL & MHL

Yegor Zaitsev was a +3 with 3 shots while averaging 14:57 across 3 KHL games last week. Dynamo Moscow has 2 regular season games left and will finish it on Saturday against Kunlun Red Star.

Daniil Misyul had a goal, +1, and 2 shots while averaging 19:17 across 2 KHL games last week. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl has 3 regular season games left and will finish it on Saturday against Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Check out the nice play he made for his goal below:

Arseni Gritsyuk finally returned from the injury that he sustained at the WJC. Last week he played in his first KHL games since late November. Across 3 games he put up an assist, +1, 2 PIM, 2 shots, and averaged 11:54 per game. That assist was his first career KHL point. Avangard Omsk has 2 regular season games left and concludes it on Saturday against Barys Nur-Sultan.

Nikita Popugayev didn’t play in any of the 3 games that Neftekhimik had last week. They aren’t going to the playoffs so they have 3 games left in their season which concludes on Saturday against Torpedo.

Shakir Mukhamadullin only played 4:33 for Russia at the recent Beijer Hockey Games but it appears that he picked up an injury during that time. Dylan Griffing reports that Mukhamadullin is likely to miss the rest of the season and may be out for the start of the playoffs. Salavat Yulaev Ufa has 3 regular season games left and concludes the season on Saturday against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

Finland

Liiga

Eetu Pakkila had a PP assist, -3, 10 shots, and averaged 14:40 across 3 games last week.

Sweden

SHL & Allsvenskan

Nikola Pasic had 2 goals, +1, 8 shots, and averaged 15:05 across 3 games last week. He’s on a good run lately with 3 goals and 2 assists over his last 7 games. Check out his latest goals which feature a nice shot and a breakaway:

Alexander Holtz was a -3 with 5 shots and averaged 13:56 across 3 games last week. It’s been a tale of two seasons for Holtz as he had 6 goals and 7 assists for 13 points over his first 16 games. He has a goal and 3 assists for 4 points over his last 16 games. He shot at 13.64% while averaging 2.75 shots per game and 16:28 in ice time during the 1st half while he has just shot 3.45% and is averaging 1.81 shots per game and is averaging 13:26 in ice time in the 2nd half.

The Rest of Europe

Swiss National League, Slovak Extraliga, Czech 1.liga, Deutsche Eishockey Liga

Benjamin Baumgartner had a goal, -3, 9 shots, and won 48.57% of his faceoffs while averaging 16:32 across 2 games last week.

Nico Daws finally played again but it didn’t go too well. On Thursday he made 15 saves on 18 shots in a loss to Augsburger.

Your Take

Which prospects stood out to you this past week? How excited are you about Dawson Mercer’s play? What do you think about Nikola Pasic’s play as of late? Are you concerned about Alexander Holtz’s slump? Leave your comments below and thank you for reading!