The IIHF World Championship doesn't always get the historical significance it might deserve. It's a "best of what's left versus best of what's left" every season. The healthy players of the teams that miss the playoffs or get knocked out in the first round usually wear their country's crest and suit up someone across the globe.
This season, the Devils sent just five players, one being prospect Lenni Hameenaho. He played for Finland, while Jacob Markstrom was one of the goalies for Team Sweden. They took home the bronze medal, and he came out of the tournament unscathed (which is most important for him). The Devils were most represented on the Switzerland team, with Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jonas Siegenthaler putting on a different red jersey to end their hockey season.
Hischier was having a really good tournament before a lower-body injury knocked him out. The injury is thought to be minor, so expect Hischier to be back to full health by training camp. With Hischier out for the latter half of the tournament, the Swiss needed someone to step up.
This is where Meier filled a huge role. The power forward was a scoring machine, putting up three goals and 10 points in 11 games. He finished the tournament 18th in points and third in +/- at +11. Those are impressive numbers, especiallt considering he was winning along the way. He took his team to the gold medal game against the Americans.
The U.S. took that game in overtime, taking home their first IIHF championship in nearly a century, but the Swiss were given their flowers for how they played in the tournament. Meier was especially good, showing he could continue to play well in games that matter.
There were plenty of lessons to learn for Meier in the 2024-25 season. He struggled mightily to start the season, and that struggle lasted until March. Then, he was the Devils' best player. "March Meier" became a moniker, and he lived up to the name. He continued to play like a hard-nosed scorer for the rest of the season, and he was breaking things up in the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes. He did miss a few big opportunities, but he had his share of moments despite just the five-game stint in the postseason.
Timo Meier showed he can play like a star in IIHF World Championship
Meier can't wait until March to contribute next season. He was doing incredibly well analytically for the entire season. It always seemed like the other shoe would drop. Those results should be easier to spread out next season.
Meier can also bring confidence from his World Championships performance into the season. Yes, we are four months away from the season starting, but confidence doesn't waiver in professional athletes. Building it is a 24/7/365 job.
If Meier can take something from his second place performance, it's that he can be the best guy when he needs to be. He can score and distribute all the same depending on what the situation calls for. When Nico Hischier went down, the Swiss had all the excuses to just pack it in and call it a year. Instead, they gave it all they had and won the silver medal.
Meier is a huge reason they did that. He can be a huge reason why the Devils eventually make it to the Stanley Cup Final if this is how he plays when it matters most.