3. Timo Meier
Another player who can step up in Hischier’s absence is Timo Meier. He is an offensive weapon when he is on. He has 35 points and is on pace for 56 in a full season. That would put him around where he was last year. Meier is capable of more, and this is when the Devils need him to turn it up. Meier has four points in the past three games, and the Devils need him to keep gaining momentum.
Typically, Meier plays on the second power-play unit. There’s been some talk about whether he belongs on PP1, especially with Hischier out. But Keefe is keeping Meier on PP2 for now. According to James Nichols, the Devils felt that with Meier on the first unit, there were too many play-drivers commanding the puck. So Meier will stay on the second unit, dispersing the play-driving. He can get something going on the second unit. Meier can be a difference-maker for this team.
Hischier leads the Devils in goals this season with 24, but if Meier can have another hot streak, he can easily replace Hischier's production in that department. We've seen Meier get hot down the stretch before, like when he scored 13 goals last March, so hopefully, he has that kind of run in him again.
While Hischier is out, the Devils need these three players to give everything they can to get the team through the injury-riddled struggles.