The New Jersey Devils added fuel to their campaign to win the NHL’s Metropolitan Division by acquiring Swiss forward Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
The Sharks opted to move from top scorer this season to one of the teams that DailyMail.com has identified as a potential suitor – just days before the trade deadline hits this Friday.
After hours of waiting, the Devils officially confirmed the deal: Meier will move to New Jersey along with defenseman Scott Harrington, a 2024 fifth-round pick, and three prospects in exchange for a package of picks and players.
The Devils sent San Jose the following: forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsonn, defensive prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotyuk, a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 second-round pick, and a 2024 seventh-round pick.
There are conditions on the first two picks the Devils sent. First, in the unlikely event that the 2023 first round pick becomes a top two pick in the draft, the Devils will give up their 2024 first round pick.
Timo Meier was traded to the New Jersey Devils from the San Jose Sharks
Second, if the Devils reach the Eastern Conference Finals this season or next season — and Meier plays half of New Jersey’s playoff games — the 2024 second-round pick will become a 2024 first-round pick.
However, if that 2024 first round pick is a top 10 pick, the Devils may transfer their 2025 first round pick. Also, if New Jersey submitted their first round of 24 as part of the first condition, the Devils will send the first round of 25 if they reach the conference finals next season.
New Jersey currently ranks second in the Metropolitan Division – just three points behind the Carolina Hurricanes. The Devils are also currently the third best team in the entire NHL. Meanwhile, the Sharks are currently the fourth worst team in the league with 48 points – just four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Meier will arrive in New Jersey without an agreed contract extension, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN. However, the 26-year-old Swiss skater will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
That means the Devils can qualify his offer and retain his rights until they reach an agreement — or until another team offers him an offer that Meier accepts once free agency opens in the summer. If Meier accepts an offer sheet, the Devils have seven days to match that offer — or the player will leave for compensation determined by the league.
Meier has 31 goals and 21 assists so far this season for 52 points. Those 31 goals put him in the league’s top 15, while his 52 points put him outside the league’s top 50.
His point total was good for second best on the Sharks, behind defenseman Erik Karlsson, who is in the midst of a year of recovery.
The addition of Scott Harrington could also be a boost to the Devils’ third defensive duo. He has an over/under rating of -7 but has only played 28 games and has one goal and six assists to his name.
Swiss striker Meier has spent his last six seasons playing for the Sharks
Prospects the Devils received were Santeri Hatakka, the 15th-ranked prospect in the Sharks’ pool (according to Athletic), as well as the rights to goaltender Zachary Emond and forward Timur Ibragimov.
As for what the Devils sent back, Zetterlund was a regular part of the Devils’ starting lineup but has been injured and scratched since Thursday. He has six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 45 games.
Andreas Johnsson has only appeared in two games this season and has no points.
In terms of dropped prospects, Mukhamadullin is New Jersey’s fifth overall prospect, fourth best defensive prospect, and second best left-handed defensive prospect, according to The Athletic.
Athletic also ranked Okhotiuk 13th overall, seventh for defensemen and fifth for left-handers in the Devils defense.
In New Jersey, it’s not immediately clear which line Meier is likely to fall into, but logic dictates that he would be placed in one of the first two lines.
Meier could fit the right wing position for either of the Devils’ first two forwards this season.
The Devils alternated between two lines as the No. 1 group on their roster: One line consists of Jesper Bratt on left wing, Jack Hughes on center, and Yegor Sharangovich on right wing.
Another line that usually gets the best minutes consists of Tomas Tatar on the left wing, Nico Hischier in the center and Dawson Mercer on the right wing.
The Bratt-Hughes-Sharangovich line has 72 goals and 85 assists for 157 total points. Meanwhile, the Tatar-Hischier-Mercer lineup has 57 goals and 71 assists for 128 total points.
As for the Sharks, the potential of getting Connor Bedard consensus put them in a position to sell some of the best players on the team.