The New Jersey Devils signed forward Timo Meier to an eight-year, $70.4 million deal Wednesday, securing their short-term acquisition from last season for the foreseeable future. The Devils added Meier before the deadline earlier this year in a massive trade with the San Jose Sharks.
In a statement, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said that the team was happy with Meier’s contributions and went to great lengths to secure him long-term.
“We were excited to acquire Timo at the deadline, but it’s an even greater feeling knowing that he’ll be here for the next eight seasons,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. “Timo’s unique blend of style of play, goal-scoring ability, and physical presence will prove valuable for us. 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.”
In 21 games for the Devils last season, Meier scored nine goals and earned five assists, helping the team as it prepared for the postseason. Combined with his 31 goals for the Sharks before the trade, he earned his second straight 40-goal season. New Jersey defeated the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Meier scored four points in the postseason on two goals and two assists.
The Devils have made several similar deals this offseason to secure established talent. Earlier this month, New Jersey also re-signed forward Erik Haula, new to the team last season, to a three-year deal and secured longtime forward Jesper Bratt to an eight-year deal as well. Though the Devils still appears to be an outsider to the Stanley Cup picture entering the 2023-24 season, they have retained much of their talent and will likely remain a key contender in the Eastern Conference.
