Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Timo Meier Headed To New Jersey

02/26/2023 at 4:46pm EST

added 9:28pm, NJD release is below.

The New Jersey Devils today acquired forwards Timo Meier, Timur Ibragimov, defensemen Scott Harrington, Santeri Hatakka, goaltender Zachary Emond and a fifth-round pick (originally Colorado's selection) in the 2024 NHL Draft via trade with the San Jose Sharks in exchange for New Jersey's first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (conditional), defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotiuk, forwards Andreas Johnsson and Fabian Zetterlund, a conditional second-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and a seventh-round selection in 2024. San Jose will retain 50% of Meier's 2022-23 salary as part of the trade. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Meier, 26, joins the Devils after spending parts of the last seven seasons in the NHL with San Jose, from 2016-17 to 2022-23. The 6'1", 220 lbs. forward has totaled 316 career points (154g-162a) in 451 games played with San Jose. His 316 career points rank 10th all-time in San Jose's franchise history, while his goal total ranks ninth.

Meier has recorded 31 goals and 21 assists to total 52 points in 57 games with the Sharks this season. He has reached the 30-goal mark in three of the last five seasons, with his highest goal output coming last season (35). The forward's 52 points ranked second on San Jose this season, while his 13 power-play goals rank seventh (tie) in the NHL and established a career-high. His 31 goals have him tied for 14th in the League while his 255 shots on goal ranks third in the League behind only David Pastrnak (279) and Connor McDavid (267). Meier earned a career-high 35 goals and 41 assists for 76 points in 2021-22. He was also the first player in San Jose's franchise history to score five goals in a game, which was recorded on Jan. 17, 2022, vs. Los Angeles. Meier has played in 35 career Stanley Cup Playoff games and has totaled 20 points (7g-13a). The last time Meier appeared in the post-season was in 2018-19, when he helped San Jose advance to the Western Conference Final and logged 15 points (5g-10a) in 20 games played.

Born on Oct. 8, 1996, the native of Herisau, Switzerland, was San Jose's first-round draft pick, ninth overall, in the 2015 NHL Draft. Before his professional experience, Meier played in the QMJHL for parts of three seasons with Halifax (2013-14 to 2015-16) and then Rouyn-Noranda in 2015-16.

Meier has represented his home country on multiple occasions, having played in the IIHF 2013 U18 World Junior Championships as well as the WJC in 2015 and captaining the team in 2016. He also played for Switzerland at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF World Championships. Meier was teammates with Devils' defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in all five of these international tournaments and was teammates with Devils' Captain Nico Hischier in 2016, 2021 and 2022. Meier will become the seventh Swiss-born player in franchise history, and the fourth currently on New Jersey's roster. San Jose signed Meier to a four-year contract on July 1, 2019, with an annual average value of $6,000,000, which expires at the end of this season, when he will become a restricted free agent.

The conditions on the draft picks are as follows:

  • San Jose Receives New Jersey's 2023 First-Round Pick: If the pick is a top-two selection, New Jersey will instead transfer their own 2024 first-round pick.
  • San Jose Receives Conditional 2024 Second-Round Pick: Should New Jersey reach the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals (and Meier plays in at least 50% of Meier's Club's Playoff games in 2023) or the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, New Jersey will transfer its own first-round pick in 2024 NHL Draft to San Jose (top 10 protected), instead of its own second-round pick in 2024 NHL Draft. If New Jersey's first-round pick in 2024 NHL Draft is a top 10 selection, New Jersey will have the option to instead transfer its own first-round pick in 2025 NHL Draft to San Jose. Should New Jersey transfer its first-round pick in 2024 NHL Draft per the original condition (top-two above in Condition A), New Jersey will instead transfer its own first-round pick in 2025 NHL Draft should they reach the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.

Harrington has spent the majority of 2022-23 with the Sharks, scoring one goal and six assists in 28 contests. In 238 career NHL regular-season games, he scored eight goals and 37 assists for 45 points with 85 penalty minutes. Harrington has also skated in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff contests tallying four assists. Hatakka has two assists in eight games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) this season. He skated in nine games with the parent club last year, for his first taste of NHL action. Ibragimov spent this season in Wichita (ECHL) where he notched 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points in 52 games. Emond has played four games in Wichita, going 3-1-0 with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage.

Mukhamadullin was one of New Jersey's three first-round selections, 20th overall, in the 2020 NHL Draft and is currently playing for Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL). Okhotiuk played in 15 career games over two seasons in New Jersey, with two goals, one assist for three points. He split time between New Jersey and Utica (AHL) this year. He was the Devils second-round selection, 61st overall, in the 2019 NHL Draft. Johnsson spent three years with New Jersey, spending most of this season in Utica where he scored nine goals and 20 assists in 36 games. Zetterlund has spent the entire year with the Devils, having six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 45 games. He was New Jersey's third-round section, 63rd overall, in the 2017 NHL Draft.

rwbill

At least he wouldnt be mired playing for a .400 team.

Paul

godblender

This is a huge get for NJ. I didn't expect them to make a splash given they're still a young team but strike while the iron is hot. What a massive breakout season and Meier is young (26) and a legit offensive weapon. If they can resign him just Jersey to the list of teams Detroit will be chasing in the coming years.

godblender

Apparently SJ turned down a couple big offers before dealing him to NJ...

According to reports:

Team 1: 1st rd pick, 2nd rd pick, top prospect

Team 2: 1st rd pick, recent 1st rd pick, mid-tier prospect

Gotta give something good to get something good

dcagodblender

Team 2 sounds an awful lot like Detroit:

2023 1st, Zadina or Veleno, and perhaps Albert Johansson, Jared McIsaac (or another of their LHD prospects)

Paul

NJD press release added to the post.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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