After several weeks of speculation, the New Jersey Devils have acquired San Jose Sharks star winger Timo Meier.
The transaction was completed on Sunday afternoon, but we had to wait long hours before knowing the multiple elements, in the middle of the evening.
Defenseman Scott Harrington is also heading to Newark, as are goaltender Zachary Émond, forward Timur Ibragimov, defenseman Santeri Hatakka, and a fifth-round pick.
The Sharks, who want to continue rebuilding the team, have secured prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Ohotyuk, forwards Andreas Johnsson and Fabian Zetterlund, as well as a 1st round pick in the 2023 draft and a pick conditional from 1st round to that of 2024.
The Vegas Golden Knights were the other team that remained in the hunt for Meier’s services until the very end.
The 26-year-old Meier already has three seasons of 30 or more goals in the NHL, including a campaign of 35 goals in 77 games, in 2021-2022.
This season, the Swiss-born athlete was on his way to easily surpassing that mark, having found the back of the net 31 times in 57 games.
LeBrun says the Devils were comfortable with the idea of making this transaction without having the guarantee that their new addition will sign a long-term contract.
Meier was the Sharks’ first-round pick, ninth overall, in the 2015 draft.
He will join the Devils in a run for the playoffs after the Rangers and Greater New York-area rivals Islanders made moves to improve their roster.
Meier could become a restricted free agent at the end of the campaign and could earn up to $10 million next season.
