The New Jersey Devils acquired Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks in a blockbuster trade Sunday in advance of the NHL trade deadline.
New Jersey sent a 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 first-rounder, forward Andreas Johnsson and prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin, Fabian Zetterlund and Nikita Okhotiuk. In return, the Devils get Meier, defenseman Scott Harrington and prospects Timur Ibragimov, Santeri Hatakka and Zach Emond to finish a complicated deal.
Meier is under team control for at least the next year. He’s a pending restricted free agent with a $10 million qualifying offer for the 2023-24 season, and Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald expects to be able to sign Meier long term.
The 26-year-old Swiss winger has 31 goals and 21 assists in 57 games this season. Meier joins a playoff race with the Devils after the rival Rangers and Islanders each made moves to improve their stock.
Fitzgerald said he was not worried about the arms race among rivals and was focused on doing what he could to improve his team.
San Jose GM Mike Grier was similarly not worried about that, realizing the price of keeping Meier did not fit with the Sharks’ plan moving forward.
