New Jersey Devils’ risky trade for All-Star winger Timo Meier back in February has paid off for both the player and the team. The Devils inked Meier to an extension that will keep the 26-year-old with the organization for the next eight years and guarantees him $70.4 million.
The Devils officially confirmed the agreement via social media on Wednesday.
“Timo’s unique blend of style of play, goal-scoring ability, and physical presence will prove valuable for us,” said Devils’ General Manager Tom Fitzgerald in a statement. “In talking with him, Timo realized, and I always believed, that this is the right place for him as a player and a person. We’ve locked up another piece of our young core that is looking to take that next step together for greater success.”
The Devils acquired Meier ahead of the NHL trade deadline from the San Jose Sharks in a blockbuster trade that also saw several players and draft picks changing hands. Many believed that the move could come and bite the Devils, considering that Meier was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2022-23 season.
The Devils’ front office opted not to pursue a long-term deal with Meier at the time of the trade, wanting to sell him the opportunity to be one of the franchise cornerstones in the second part of the campaign. It appears they managed to do just that and now have a player that will help them build on an encouraging last season.
Timo Meier played a total of 472 games in the NHL since 2016–17, contributing 163 goals and 167 assists for a total of 330 points. He earned his first All-Star nod in 2022.
