Timo Meier One Small Light In New Jersey Devils Recent Struggles

The New Jersey Devils are holding onto their slim playoff chances, looking to make it for the second year in a row for the first time since the 2009 and 2010 playoffs. However, their hopes will soon turn to dust as the team continues to surrender meaningful points. 

There are not many positives when looking at the 2023-24 Devils. New Jersey currently has a 31-30-4 record and is six points out from the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Six points is extremely doable, but with the recent collapse of play, it almost seems impossible.

The Devils are 3-7 in their last 10 games and have allowed 36 goals while only scoring 27. Defensive mistakes, bad goaltending, a lack of offense, and overall inconsistency have led to this issue, but one player has been holding up his end of the bargain; Timo Meier. 

Meier came to New Jersey in the thick of last season and has struggled to produce. Through 21 games with New Jersey last year, the Switzerland native boasted nine goals and five assists, good for a total of 14 points. This year, with the story still unwritten, Meier has 18 goals, 16 assists, and 34 points through 52 games, but it wasn’t until recently that he began to increase his numbers. 

As the teams play spirals downwards, his has trended upwards, scoring eight goals in the past ten games, while also helping with four assists, good for 12 points in that stretch. 

Not many other Devils have been as consistent as Meier recently, and they are going to need other players to step up if they want a shot at the postseason. With opponents winning, and the Devils losing, they have one last chance down the stretch to make a push for the playoffs, but the team needs to get on Meier’s level before it is too late.