The Minnesota Wild have signed undrafted free agent goalie Riley Mercer to a three-year entry-level contract starting in the 2025–26 season. The financial details were not disclosed.
Mercer, 21, is turning pro after five seasons with the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound goaltender helped lead Drummondville to a QMJHL title in 2023–24, finishing the playoffs with a 1.89 goals-against average, .934 save percentage, and two shutouts in 19 games. He followed that with a strong 2024–25 campaign, leading the league with a .925 save percentage in 46 games, though he was injured in the playoffs as the team fell to Halifax in the first round.
Mercer is already familiar to Minnesota, having attended their rookie camp last year. He chose to return to juniors for an overage season rather than sign a pro deal at the time. Now, he’ll enter the NHL ranks with a contract that could see him called up as early as next season.
He’s expected to start with AHL Iowa, joining a Wild goaltending situation that remains in transition. Jesper Wallstedt, who signed a two-year, $4.4 million extension in 2023, is expected to move to the NHL full-time despite a rough AHL season. Filip Gustavsson and 23-year-old Samuel Hlavaj are the only other goaltenders currently under contract for 2025–26. Hlavaj, who outperformed Wallstedt this year in Iowa, may take over the AHL starting role.
Mercer, the younger brother of Devils forward Dawson Mercer, will likely begin as an AHL backup, though the team may opt to sign a veteran for that role and send Mercer to ECHL Iowa to gain more playing time—a common path for undrafted goalies moving up from junior hockey.
His contract runs through the 2027–28 season. He’ll become a restricted free agent afterward and will be arbitration-eligible if he plays at least 10 games each season.
Leave a Reply