New Jersey acquired Timo Meier from San Jose one year ago today.
On Feb. 26, 2023, The New Jersey Devils announced a blockbuster trade that sent Timo Meier, among others, to the Garden State.
As a return, the San Jose Sharks received forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsson, defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotiuk, a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and a second- and seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
In addition to Meier, the Devils received defensemen Scott Harrington and Santeri Hatakka, forward prospect Timur Ibragimov, goalie prospect Zachary Emond, and a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
During his introductory media availability, the Swiss winger gave Devils fans some insight into the type of player their team acquired.
"I'm kind of your typical power forward," he said. "I like to shoot the puck and try to get to the net, those areas where I can be a threat to score. I like to play a 200-foot game and add my physicality. I think that's kind of my mentality. I'm going to try to be the best Timo Meier I can be for the New Jersey Devils."
It has been one calendar year since the Swiss winger was alerted to the trade. Meier has appeared in 66 games for the Devils and has 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists).
There was a learning curve as Meier went from being the guy in San Jose to incorporating himself into a Devils' forward group with the likes of Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Jack Hughes.
Meier did not earn a point in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs but managed to become a pest and get under the skin of Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers. He added physicality with 37 hits in the postseason and took on a role the Devils desperately needed.
This season, Meier has 11 goals and 13 assists. Injuries have affected his play as he missed time with an undisclosed injury in November and a mid-body injury in January.
On Monday, Meier's former teammate Logan Couture spoke to Max Miller of The Hockey News about the trade that sent his linemate to New Jersey.
"In the salary cap world, unfortunately, not everyone can play on one team for the rest of their career," Couture said to Miller. "(San Jose) got really good players for (Meier). I think, all things considered, of course, I wish (Meier) was still here and I was playing on a line with him, but it's not the way it is. I think all things considered (San Jose) got some really good players for a really good player."
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was briefly teammates with Meier in New Jersey before being traded to the Sharks over the summer.
"I thought it was good for New Jersey," Blackwood said to Miller. "Obviously, good for San Jose. They're in different positions, right? New Jersey gets a guy who's a big power forward who can score goals and help them make the playoffs, and San Jose got younger and a lot of prospects and stuff like that. It kind of helped both teams."
Meier will return to San Jose for the first time since the trade to face his former team on Tuesday night when the puck drops at 10:30 P.M. EST.