The Wild announced they’ve signed undrafted free agent goaltender Riley Mercer to a three-year entry-level contract beginning in 2025-26. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Mercer, 21, turns pro after five seasons with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The 6’2″, 203-lb netminder won a QMJHL championship with the club in 2023-24, posting a 1.89 GAA, .934 SV%, and two shutouts in 19 playoff games. He proceeded to lead the league with a .925 SV% in 46 appearances in 2024-25, although he was injured in the postseason as Drummondville was upset by the Halifax Mooseheads in seven games in the first round.
Minnesota and Mercer aren’t new to each other. The Wild invited him to rookie camp last year, so he’s been on their radar for a while. He opted to return to Drummondville for his overage season instead of signing a professional deal, but he’ll now get an NHL contract out of the gate to give him call-up opportunities as soon as next season.
He’ll presumably report to AHL Iowa out of the gate to join a Wild goaltending group that’s in a bit of flux. Top prospect Jesper Wallstedt is expected to move to a full-time NHL role next year after signing a two-year, $4.4MM extension last October, but he’s coming off a disastrous season that saw him post a 3.59 GAA and .879 SV% in 27 AHL games. But beyond him and Filip Gustavsson, 23-year-old Slovak Samuel Hlavaj was the only other goaltender under contract or team control for 2025-26. He could be in line for the AHL starting job next year after outperforming Wallstedt with a 2.85 GAA, .904 SV%, one shutout, and a 14-14-4 record in 36 AHL appearances this season.
The younger brother of Devils forward Dawson Mercer should be at least ticketed for an AHL backup role out of the gate as a result, although they could also sign a veteran backup for Hlavaj and demote Mercer to ECHL Iowa for more playing time. That’s a common path for goalies, especially undrafted ones making the jump from junior hockey.
Mercer’s contract will run through the 2027-28 season. He’ll be a restricted free agent upon expiry and will be eligible for arbitration if he plays at least 10 games in each season of the deal.