Devils bolster offense with acquisition of Timo Meier
Timo Meier was traded to the New Jersey Devils from the San Jose Sharks on Sunday. Meier, who is in the final year of his contract, can become a free agent after this season but it is believed that the Devils will try to sell him on staying in New Jersey long term.
San Jose drafter Meier ninth overall in 2015 and while he did hit the 30-goal mark early in his career, last season was his coming out party. The 26-year-old scored 35 goals and 76 points in 77 games last season, and it’s carried over to this season. Meier has scored 31 goals in 57 games with the Sharks before being traded.
New Jersey is one of the best offensive teams in the league, ranking sixth in goals and fourth in shot attempts, but adding Meier raises the team’s ceiling to new heights. Only four players (one being Jack Hughes) have generated more shots than Meier, and he ranks among the top-25 players in goals per 60 minutes.
Meier is ahead of players like Auston Matthews, Sebastian Aho and Mika Zibanejad in terms of scoring efficiency and putting him in a top-six role should lift the Devils five-on-five scoring rates to new heights. Meier will also help on special teams, as only six players have scored more power play goals (13) than Meier has this season. The Devils power play ranks 19th year-to-date but it should improve down the stretch.
New Jersey’s Stanley Cup odds at DraftKings Sportsbook increased from +1500 to +1300 following news of the trade, but the New York is still the rumoured destination for superstar Patrick Kane, and the Devils’ road to the Stanley Cup, will become a lot tougher if the Rangers add a future Hall of Famer.
Meier has missed the last three games due to an upper body injury, but he is expected to join the team and travel to Denver ahead of their game against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
