New Jersey Devils: Is Timo Meier A Legitimate Trade Option?

Just two years ago, New Jersey Devils fans were upset when yet another player who was taken in the NHL Draft after Pavel Zacha was rocketing past him in terms of NHL value. Timo Meier was taken ninth overall in 2015 by the San Jose Sharks. Meier went off the wall in 2018-19, scoring 30 goals and hitting 66 points. He also added 15 points in 20 playoff games. Meier seemed like the young guy on what should have been a perennial playoff team.

Things went awry since then for Meier and the Sharks. He’s had 49 points in 70 games in 2019-10 and added 31 points in 52 games this past season. It’s still fine overall, but he was supposed to be one of the better wingers in the NHL based on where he was his sophomore season. Now, he had fewer points than Zacha did this past season.

Obviously, with both Meier and Nico Hischier being from Switzerland, Devils fans will always dream of putting the two together. At this year’s World Championships, they showed they actually have really good chemistry together. His goal on Sunday morning had everyone excited for the possibility.

Hischier and Meier would be great on a line together, but is it really possible? The Sharks are in a weird place, and it doesn’t seem like they are going to compete in the near future despite having a $70 million payroll next season. They have seven restricted free agents to sign, and they only have Martin Jones on the roster at goalie. To say they are still in a bad way is an understatement. Getting Meier’s $6 million price tag off the roster would definitely help, even if he’s not exactly overpaid.

Meier is the type of player that fits into Tom Fitzgerald’s timeline. He’s only 24 years old, so the best could still be yet to come. He’s about to jump into his prime, and after two seasons where he fell below expectations, the Sharks might be willing to let him go.

The cost is an interesting question. The Devils do have an extra 1st-round pick this season, so they can start a deal there. They also have a lot of good prospects. The Devils will have to choose between giving up a top-five prospect or their own 1st-round pick to make the centerpiece of any deal. Still, after seeing Meier and Hischier play together, it might be the best move for everyone involved.