When the New Jersey Devils traded for Timo Meier back in the 2022-23 season, the expectations were at an all-time high. New Jersey were desperate for a goalscorer like Meier, giving up Fabian Zetterlund, Andreas Johnsson, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Okhotiuk, a 2023 conditional first-round pick, 2024 conditional second-round pick, and a 2024 seventh-round pick.
He has yet to reach the marks he did with the San Jose Sharks, not having a 30-goal season with the Devils. Scoring 28, 26, and 24 goals in his last three seasons with New Jersey just doesn't feel like enough.
Timo Meier should be able to reach 30 goals again
With the season just a couple of days away, the Devils' lines seem set for the opener on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Timo Meier will play left wing on the first line with Nico Hischier and newly acquired Devil, Luke Evangelista. As for the power play units, Meier is with the second group that consists of Evan Rodrigues, Anthony Mantha, Arseny Gritsyuk, and Dougie Hamilton. These groups scream a ton of goals, the perfect time for Timo Meier to step up and lead the way.
Timo Meier returning to his old form would significantly enhance the Devils' chances of advancing past the second round and potentially going even further. Advanced statistics support the belief that Meier can reach the 30-goal mark with the Devils. Last season, he had an expected goals total of 34.9, which is 11 goals higher than his actual production of 24 goals.
One consistent metric for Meier is his shots on goal; he recorded 269 last season, ranking 9th in the NHL. An underrated aspect of Meier's game is the power of his shot; his fastest recorded shot reached 94.3 MPH, placing him in the 95th percentile for shooting speed. The key for Timo is improving his finishing ability. With the volume of shots he takes, he is well-positioned to score a high number of goals.
