Now that Bo Horvat is off the trading block, forward-needy teams will turn their attention to the biggest remaining name on the market — Timo Meier.
The 26-year-old winger leads the San Jose Sharks with 28 goals in 51 games and, unlike Horvat, is under team control after this season. Meier, whose expiring contract carries a $6 million cap hit, will be a restricted free this summer. He is owed a $10 million qualifying offer, however, which could give interested teams pause.
Meier is a high-volume shooter, trailing only David Pastrnak and Jack Hughes in shots on goal this season. He ranks seventh in scoring chances in all situations (187), though he is behind only Auston Matthews in 5-on-5 chances (133).
Only five players have more expected goals than Meier (25.4), which reflects well on Meier’s ability to produce high-quality offence.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Meier uses his solid frame to hold off defenders in front of the net and along the boards. He is tied for ninth in both rebound recoveries (58) and puck-battle wins in the offensive zone (75).
What separates Meier from prototypical power forwards is his mobility. Meier, whose 58 rush chances are tied for fourth most in the league, is at his best when pushing the pace. When Meier is on the ice, high-event hockey is the norm. The Sharks have both generated and allowed 102 rush chances at 5-on-5 during his shifts this season.
Unsurprisingly, multiple teams are reportedly in on Meier as the March 3 trade deadline approaches. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman wrote in his 32 Thoughts column last week that the New Jersey Devils are “very much in it.”
Stylistically, Meier would be a near-perfect fit in New Jersey. Led by the lightning-quick Hughes, the Devils are one of the top rush teams in the league, ranking in the top three in both rush chances (346) and goals (48). The thought of Meier teaming up with Hughes or Swiss countryman Nico Hischier should send shivers down opponents’ spines.
Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights are down a top-line winger after captain Mark Stone underwent back surgery last week that will sideline him indefinitely. If the Golden Knights place Stone and his $9.5 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve, they would free up enough space to squeeze in Meier.
Since Stone left the lineup, the Golden Knights are 1-5-2 and averaging two goals per game. No. 1 centre Jack Eichel has been far less effective without Stone by his side at even strength, controlling 46 per cent of expected goals in 287:37 without him compared to 64.1 per cent in 302:09 with him. Meier would be a top-notch replacement, though it would be startling to see him suit up for the Sharks’ archrival.
The Buffalo Sabres, who are flush with cap space and trying to end an 11-season playoff drought, are another potential suitor. They could use another scorer to take the pressure off first-liners Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. Could the New York Rangers, who have long been linked to Patrick Kane, take a run at Meier instead?
Those are just some of the possible landing spots. Whichever team ends up with Meier will be better for it.
“Timo’s a unique player,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier told reporters last month. “I think (if) you’re starting a team from scratch, and you’ve got a chance to grab someone like Timo, you’re going to take him and put him on your wing and forget about him for the next 10 years. He’s big. He’s fast. He can score. There’s plenty of interest in him.”
Stats from Sportlogiq