The New Jersey Devils have come out on top of the Timo Meier sweepstakes. With some delay due to the medical status of one of the involved players, the trade between them and the San Jose Sharks has now been officialized. First reports of a basically done deal came a few hours earlier.
Alongside Meier, the Devils also get defensemen Scott Harrington, Santeri Hatakka, forward Timur Ibragimov, netminder Zachary Emond plus a 2024 fifth-round pick.
In return, the Sharks have acquired forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsson as well as defensemen Nikita Ohotiuk and Shakir Mukhamadullin. A 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 second-round pick and a 2024 seventh-round pick are also going their way.
Additionally, San Jose retains 50% of Meier's salary. The conditional 2024 second-round pick depends on whether the Devils make it to the Eastern Conference Finals either this or next year - if they do so, it becomes a first-round pick. There are more details involved.
Meier, who missed the last few games due to an upper-body injury, has recorded 31 goals and 21 assists in 57 games so far this season.
The 26-year-old will become a restricted free agent in the summer. It has been speculated that a trade might come with an extension in place, but it seems as if this is not the case for now.
