This Is The Perfect New Jersey Devils Forward Lineup With Timo Meier

The New Jersey Devils are starting to look like they are going to be a team that makes it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year. They came in with a lot of question marks but there is no doubt that they are good.

Now the conversation has shifted toward the idea of being buyers at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. That is something to be very careful with this year because this is just year one of a window that literally just opened this year.

Adding someone like Timo Meier, however, would be a very smart move at the right price. It would be nice for him to sign an extension upon his arrival as his six million-dollar-a-year contract is about to expire. He is certainly going to get a slight upgrade in terms of the average annual value.

If he came to the Devils, you’d have to wonder how the team would line up with him there. Obviously, there are two insanely good centers for him to get a chance with but it seems more likely that he’d get a chance with one over the other.

Timo Meier would be a perfect fit for the New Jersey Devils going forward.

If he came to the Devils, the lines might look something like this:

Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt

Ondrej Palat – Jack Hughes – Tomas Tatar

Yegor Sharangovich – Erik Haula – Dawson Mercer

Miles Wood – Michael McLeod – Nathan Bastian

With these lines, the New Jersey Devils would be a much better team. Meier replaces Jesper Boqvist in the lineup and jumps on that top line with Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt.

Meier and Hischier already have proven that they have chemistry as they were linemates (and very successful together) at the World Championships for Switzerland. It is literally the perfect match. With a stud like Jesper Bratt, that line could be absolutely incredible.

That would also push Ondrej Palat down a line to play with Jack Hughes who is the best player on the team. The chemistry that these two could have is off the charts. Jack can make anyone look good but Palat is a proven veteran in this league. Tomas Tatar is the perfect sniper on the other side.

Instead of playing on Jack Hughes’ wing, Erik Haula could then play his natural position of center on the third line. That would literally be the perfect role for him as he is incredible in the faceoff dot and a great checking forward that can make some plays every now and again.

The “BMW Line” of Nathan Bastian, Michael McLeod, and Miles Wood would remain intact here. That line brings so much energy to this team and it would be hard to break them apart.

Again, adding Meier is a no-brainer. They are just going to have to outbid some other teams if they are going to be the ones to land him. The Sharks are in the tank and would be very unwise not to trade him as soon as possible. It is becoming a matter of when and not if.