The New Jersey Devils fueled their campaign to win the NHL’s Metropolitan Division by acquiring Swiss-born forward Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
The Sharks have opted to move their leading scorer this season to one of the teams identified by DailyMail.com as a potential suitor – just days before the trade deadline this Friday.
After hours of waiting, the Devils officially confirmed the deal: Meier will move to New Jersey along with defenseman Scott Harrington, a 2024 fifth-round pick and three prospects in exchange for a package of picks and players.
The Devils sent the following to San Jose: forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsonn, defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotyuk, a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 second-round pick and a 2024 seventh-round pick.
There are conditions for the first two picks sent by the devils. First, in the unlikely event that the 2023 first-rounder becomes the first pick of the two drafts, the Devils would instead surrender their 2024 first-round pick.
Timo Meier was traded to the New Jersey Devils from the San Jose Sharks
Second, if the Devils reach the Eastern Conference Finals this season or next – and Meyer plays in half of New Jersey’s playoff games – that 2024 second-round pick becomes a 2024 first-round pick.
However, if that 2024 first-round pick is a top-10 pick, the Devils can move their 2025 first-round pick. Additionally, if New Jersey sends the ’24 first-rounder as part of the first condition, the Devils will send the first round of ’25 if they advance to the conference final next season.
New Jersey is currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division – just three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes. The Devils are also currently the third best team in the entire NHL. Meanwhile, the Sharks are currently the fourth-worst team in the league, with 48 points – just four points ahead of the bottom-placed Columbus Blue Jackets.
Meier will arrive in New Jersey without an agreed-upon contract extension, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. However, the 26-year-old Swiss skater will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
That means the Devils can match his offer and retain his rights until they agree to a deal — or until another team offers him an offer sheet that Meier accepts once free agency opens in the summer. If Meier accepts an offer sheet, the Devils will have seven days to match that offer — or the player will be gone for compensation determined by the league.
Meyer has 31 goals and 21 assists so far this season for 52 points. Those 31 goals put him in the top-15 in the league while his 52 points put him just outside the top-50 in the league.
His point total was good for second-best on the Sharks behind defenseman Erik Karlsson, who is in the midst of a bounce-back year.
The addition of Scott Harrington could also prove to be a boost for the Devils’ third-pair defense. He has a plus/minus rating of -7 but has only played in 28 games and has one goal and six assists to his name.
Swiss-born forward Meier spent his last six seasons playing for the Sharks
The prospects the Devils received were Santeri Hatakka, the Sharks’ 15th prospect (per the Athletic) as well as the rights to goaltender Zachary Emond and forward Timur Ibragimov.
As for what the Devils sent back, Zetterlund was a regular in the Devils starting lineup, but was injured and has been scratched since Thursday. He has six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 45 games.
Andreas Johnson has appeared in just two games this season and has no points.
In terms of prospects being let go, Mukhamadullin is New Jersey’s fifth-best prospect, fourth-best defensive prospect and second-best left-handed defensive prospect, according to The Athletic.
The Athletic also has Okhotiuk 13th overall, seventh among defensemen and fifth among left-handed defensemen on the Devils team.
In New Jersey, it’s not immediately clear which line Meyer will likely slot into, but logic dictates that he’ll slot into one of the top two lines.
Meier could fit in at right tackle for either of the Devils’ top two offensive lines this season
The Devils alternate between two lines as the No. 1 group on their roster: one line consists of Jesper Bratt at left wing, Jack Hughes at center and Yegor Sharangovich at right wing.
Another line that often gets top minutes consists of Tomas Tatar at left wing, Nico Hischier at center and Dawson Mercer at right wing.
The Bratt-Hughes-Sharangovich line has 72 goals and 85 assists for 157 total points. Meanwhile, the Tatar-Hischier-Mercer line has 57 goals and 71 assists for 128 total points.
As for the Sharks, being able to land consensus top prospect Connor Bedard has put them in a position to trade some of the team’s best players.