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Two Teams That Could Land San Jose Sharks Timo Meier at The Deadline

By Richard Jelinek

ELMONT, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on October 18, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
ELMONT, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on October 18, 2022 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The NHL trade deadline is less than a month away, and already some deals have been made. While there are still some quality names out there, one player seems to be at the top of the list. He is part of the San Jose Sharks, who could use a rebuild in the worst way. Forward Timo Meier is at the top of the forward’s list and almost seems as if he is out the door. We have to figure out where he is going.

The San Jose Sharks would love to keep Meier. He is a top-ten winger who can score goals and is offensively productive and in his prime. The problem? Money. The San Jose Sharks are strapped for cash due to contracts handed out in the past. The Sharks are trying to move out of those deals, yet get younger in a rebuild-on-the-fly approach. Trading Timo Meier could set them up for quicker success, as the package sent to San Jose in return would likely include prospects and picks.

Timo Meier can play left-wing or right-wing and can be equally effective. In this current 2022/23 season, Meier has 30 goals and 21 assists for 51 points in 54 games but is a -15. He does come with a $6 million cap hit so that may play a role in getting traded.

Could San Jose Sharks forward Meier fit in Carolina or New York?

Speaking of which, we can already eliminate any Western Conference team as San Jose is not going to move him to a team in the same conference. The Sharks are also not going to trade him to a team with a poor prospect pipeline. My opinion is he will be moved to n Eastern Conference team. To a team that is either aiming for a playoff berth or a team that is wanting to beef up for a lengthy playoff run. Enter the Carolin Hurricanes and New York Rangers.

The Carolina Hurricanes are primed for a playoff run. Although they have $0 in projected cap space, they do have the sixth-ranked prospect pipeline in the NHL. Carolina has a solid group of forwards but it would play in their favor to add a 30-goal scorer to an already impressive forward unit. Carolina is 14th in goals scored (172), 11th in goals per game (3.31), and has the 22nd-ranked power play unit at 19.8%. The Hurricanes have room in their top six now due to the injury to forward Max Pacioretty, who is out for the season. Meier could be that forward to help goal-scoring and extend a playoff run, a key piece to the playoff push. Defenseman Scott Morrow could be included in a package for Meier.

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Another team in the same division, the New York Rangers, who are only six points behind Carolina for the division lead. The Rangers have the ninth-ranked pipeline in the league. They have a good mix of young forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders that could appeal to the Shark in return. The Rangers have a projected cap space of only $336, 833 so they need to get crafty if this trade for Meier is going to work. New York has scored 176 goals (12th), has a 3.32 goals-per-game average (9th), and is 12th in the league on the power play (22.7%). The Rangers have room in their top six for Meier, even after acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko. A name that could be going to San Jose is winger Alexis Lafreniere.

Whether it is the Carolina Hurricanes, the New York Rangers, or another team, Timo Meier and his services will be talked about for the next couple of weeks until he is moved.  He has the skill, a good cap hit, and is still young enough to make a difference. Regardless of where he goes, he will produce offensively. However, Meier will also cost a fortune to acquire in terms of draft picks, prospects, and NHL-ready players. He will be at the top-of-the-line pickup for whatever team acquires him and may see the playoffs for the first time in a while.

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