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Timo Meier joins New Jersey Devils at the 2022-23 trade deadline. While he took some adjustments early in the campaign, he still became a vital piece for the Devils down the stretch. There were some struggles and adjustments again in the playoffs (not to mention Jacob Trouba in the case of Jacob Trouba), but the Devils were expected to have found another indispensable player. Meyer’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he will sign an eight-year extension for a total of $70.4 million. The 2023-24 season will be Meyer’s first full season with the Devils, with his new cap hit of $8.8 million.
In retrospect, the 2023-24 season is one that fans and the Devils themselves (including Meyer) would probably rather forget.
As the second highest paid Devils player behind Doug Hamilton and the highest paid forward, expectations were high for Timo. Unfortunately, he fell far short of those expectations, scoring just 52 points in 69 games. Meyer was one of the Devils players to get off to a slow start, and injuries hampered his performance. He ultimately finished with a respectable scoring effort, but 52 points wasn’t enough for his income. This was further evidenced by the fact that Jesper Bratt, also a restricted free agent last summer, led the team with 83 points after signing his own weight-year contract, despite making approximately $1 million less per season.
Instead of continuing to talk about last season, today we’re shifting our focus to the upcoming season, which is about two months from now. If the Devils are going to get back into the playoffs, Meyer has to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load. I’m not saying he has to be the highest scoring forward on the team; honestly, I think we’re going to see Blatt and Jack Hughes battle for that title. I’m saying Meyer needs to be at least the third option for the Devils, and he needs to be a scorer of at least 70 points again.
The most encouraging factor in this comparison is the health of Meyer. As mentioned earlier, he missed some time last season due to injury and played through injuries for parts of the season as well. Even if his production rises later in the 2023-24 season, Timo is still not 100%. With the 2024-25 season upon us, he has a chance to start the season off on the right foot (as does the rest of the team compared to last season) and bring the scoring acumen he was known for before being acquired back to the forefront.
If Timo can play a full season like he will at the end of the 2023-24 season, then there are no worries and he will easily outlive his current contract. Even if he gets back to around 60 points, his contract still looks good as the salary cap rises. If he can’t fix all the offensive issues, of course, he will still bring value because he will have some offensive and intangibles that other forwards don’t have, such as his physicality and willingness to go to the “dirty” areas of the ice. But at the same time, the Devils are a team that wants to compete and maximize the value of all players. If your highest-paid forward is not bringing the value needed or expected, then the situation will be scrutinized when other contracts are renewed. Or when other players have to be traded for salary reasons; you know, the kind of moves that will get the general manager fired.
Additionally, Meyer needs to perform better because if he doesn’t perform well, it could affect the team’s cap sheet in the long run. Sure, maybe one or two players here or there will take a contract that’s good for the team, but if Meyer remains a 50-something, how can other players who perform better than him not want more? And how can they not want to leave if the Devils reject their terms? There were concerns about having to overpay Meyer last summer, and now if he continues to underperform, that tag could become a reality.
Personally, I think Meyer will have a great season for the Devils this year. Yes, he’s an inconsistent player, but when he’s good, he’s good. A change in coaching and system this season might also be the spark that Timo needs. I know that last bit of analysis doesn’t seem optimistic, but I don’t think we can get to that point (criticizing Timo, calling for Tom Fitzgerald to be fired, or both) unless Meyer starts having consecutive underperforming seasons (aka much worse than last year). He still brings a lot of value to the Devils right now; he’s just not bringing $8.8 million, and he needs to get back to that level. Otherwise, the Devils could see their contention window close before they have a chance to break out.
What do you think of Timo Meier and his current contract; as the highest paid striker, do you think he needs to do better? Do you think he deserves a higher salary than other strikers due to other aspects of his game? What are your expectations for him in the 2024-25 season? Please leave any comments below, and as always, thank you for reading!
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