Mike McKenna was joined by Frank Seravalli to talk about the latest on the New York Rangers and Timo Meier on the latest episode of "Daily Faceoff Live."
Mike McKenna: Patrick Kane has long been linked to the New York Rangers as a potential trade deadline fit, but do the Rangers have their eye on any other right-wingers who could possibly land in their top six?
Frank Seravalli: They do Mike, and I think everyone’s curious about what happens with Patrick Kane. I would include the New York Rangers in that group still as well. But they’re also doing their due diligence on some others. I was told that Timo Meier of the San Jose Sharks has risen to the very top of the list as a potential trade target and fit for the Rangers.
You look at the season that Meier is having with the Sharks, it’s not just Erik Karlsson who is having a career year. It’s Timo Meier with 25 goals wrapped up already to this point in 45 games. He’s got 45 points, he’s someone that would add a little bit of heft I think to their top-six. And if you can plug him in, whether it’s on the line with Artemi Panarin, whether it’s in another spot with Mika Zibanejad, there’s certainly a place and a spot for Timo Meier.
I think the one complication, I’m told with Patrick Kane even with a team like New York potentially interested, is that I don’t think he wants to go anywhere for a three-month run. I think if he’s going to move, he wants to have a long-term contract extension in place. And that’s sort of where things get complicated for the Rangers as you do the math with someone like Meier. He has a $10 million qualifying offer that’s due to him at the end of this season.
I don’t think anyone thinks right at this moment, even as he’s been a point-per-game player, that this season he’s taking a big leap forward from the 75 points he put up last year to be a $10 million player. So can they come to some sort of long-term contract extension for Timo Meier under a number that is not just comfortable for Meier, but also fits the Rangers and their cap moving forward?
I don’t think there’s been much happening with Meier and the Sharks in terms of a contract negotiation. It’s front-burner for them to try and maximize the return on Meier and as I said the Rangers have emerged as a prime candidate to land Meier’s services.
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