Timo Meier is getting set to play the San Jose Sharks in San Jose for the first time since he was traded to the New Jersey Devils last season.

Timo Meier is getting set to play the San Jose Sharks in San Jose for the first time since he was traded to the New Jersey Devils last season.

The winger was surrounded by media this morning but could do nothing but smile. 

"When it all happened, it was a very quick turnaround. You pack your stuff, and then you leave," Meier said. Now, [I'm] coming back here, and I still have a spot here and some stuff here, so it's like the second packing I had to do, but no, it's always exciting."

Meier's first complete season with New Jersey hasn't gone to plan. He has just 11 goals and 13 assists in 45 games with the Devils. Sharks forward Fabian Zetterlund, acquired in the Meier trade, has more goals than him with 15.

Meier signed an 8-year, $70,400,000 contract with the Devils last season, which has come with some lofty expectations. 

"I have high expectations for myself. I want to grow as a player and want to win. That's the biggest thing," Meier said about the expectations. "[I'm] just trying to get better every day. There's going to be highs and lows. [I am] just learning from them and staying positive and keep coming in every day with a positive attitude willing to get better."

Devils head coach Lindy Ruff isn't worried about Meier's lack of high-powered production this season. He noted that he has missed time due to injuries and is still adjusting to a massive change in location and expectations. 

"It's not an easy adjustment right off the bat," Ruff said. "Even looking back at last year's playoffs, getting into that grind and how physical some of those games ended up being. The one hit he took inside the game. I thought it took a couple of games to actually rebound from that. It takes a while to fit in. I think there's lots of examples out around the league."

The hit Ruff is talking about was against the New York Rangers when Jacob Trouba ran into Meier in open ice.

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Meier also talked about the impacts of Sharks legends Joe Thornton & Patrick Marleau on him.

"Very lucky coming in as a young guy and learning from guys like that," Meier said. "The way they behave off the ice and, obviously, the players they are on the ice, just unbelievable guys that definitely deserve to be up there. They've done so much for the Sharks organization and also a young guy like me. I was able to learn a lot from them and grow.

Devils captain and fellow countryman to Meier, Nico Hischier, said he sees the impacts that Marleau and Thronton had on Meier and feels he is bringing those to the Devils. 

"He's played with a lot of legends. They taught him a lot of things, and he can bring that to our locker room as one of our veteran players," Hischer said of Meier. "He has a lot of experience from playoff runs with the Sharks, and that's what we need here. He's a big part of our group, and the commitment you gave to us that's just a good thing."

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK3kTOHZtwE[/embed]

Meier said he has no expectations for how the crowd will receive him, but he knows it will be special. 

"The fans are unbelievable here, and through my time here, they were so great to me," Meier said. "It's nice to come back here and play in front of them."

Meier skated on a line with Hischer and Jasper Bratt at morning skate, the Devils' top line. 

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