It’s no longer Timo Time in San Jose.
The Sharks traded veteran winger Timo Meier for the New Jersey Devils on Sunday in a massive nine-player deal that also includes four draft picks changing hands.
Both teams announced the deal just after 6 p.m. PT.
The Sharks will receive defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotiuk, forwards Andreas Johnsson and Fabian Zetterlund, a 2023 first-round draft pick and a conditional 2024 first-round pick in exchange for Meier, defensemen Scott Harrington and Santeri Hatakka, the left wing Timur Ibragimov, goaltender Zachary Emond, a 2024 fifth-round pick (acquired in March from the Colorado Avalanche in a trade from Andrew Cogliano) and a 2024 seventh-round pick.
The Haie will keep 50 percent of Meier’s million-dollar salary this season as well.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the terms of the 2024 first-round draft are contingent on whether the Devils reach the conference finals this season or next.
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic ranked Mukhamadullin as the Devils’ No. 5 pick and Okhotyuk as the No. 13 in New Jersey.
For about an hour on Sunday, it seemed like the trade had hit a snag. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that an injury to a player involved in the deal held things up.
After the deal was announced, Friedman reported that the Sharks and Devils had to remove and change part of the deal.
LeBrun reported earlier this month that the Devils’ interest in Meier is conditional on the 26-year-old signing a potential contract extension. But on Sunday, LeBrun reported that New Jersey would take Meier without an extension.
The Sharks have turned down some tempting offers for Meier in recent days, according to Seravalli.
Trade rumors surrounding Meier have been swirling for weeks ahead of the 2023 NHL trade deadline on March 3 – a situation he described as “challenging.” LeBrun also reported Sunday that five teams were involved in trade talks for Meier at one point, including the Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues. In the end, according to LeBrun, it came down to the Devils and Vegas Golden Knights.
Now Meier appears to be heading to New Jersey on loan as the upcoming restricted free agent’s qualifying bid is millions this summer. However, LeBrun reported that the Devils still consider Meier a long-term play.
Meier became the third Swiss player in franchise history to be drafted by San Jose in 2015, and that season the longtime Haitian had 31 goals and 52 points for a San Jose team in the midst of rebuilding.
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Meier leaves the Sharks second to bottom in the Pacific Division and joins the Devils, who are currently second to the Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division.
New Jersey emerged victorious from the Meier Sweepstakes and will now attempt to return to the NHL playoffs with its newfound star for the first time since 2012.