The New Jersey Devils traded for Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks about a year ago. While things have not been all sunshine and rainbows, to quote Sylvester Stallone in Rocky Balboa, Meier is turning a corner in New Jersey after the coaching change.
Timo Meier is heating up and becoming the scorer the Devils hoped he’d be when they acquired him. Being traded is not easy, and there are adjustments to systems and roles on a team. However, Meier has been put into a top-six role and on the top line, allowing his scoring touch to take off. He is also being used in the bumper position on the power play.
On Thursday night, Timo Meier recorded a hat trick in the Devils’ 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. He has eight goals in his past eight games, including seven in his last five. Meier recorded a goal in the Devils loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. However, you can see the confidence in his game rising.
Things were turning a corner for him before Lindy Ruff was dismissed as head coach. However, interim head coach Travis Green is utilizing him better and is seeing the results.
“It’s important, obviously,” Green said after Thursday’s win over St. Louis. “He’s a big part of the group. Making sure that he gets going is important. It has been a little rocky for him at times to find his game, but I think he’s just feeling better about himself right now.”
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Meier is playing with confidence. Confidence is essential to a player. Not to mention the weight of a contract. The Devils signed Meier to an eight-year, $70.4 million contract this past offseason. Meier’s contract comes with an AAV of $8.8 million. So, the expectations were high. The results were not there early. However, now they are showing up.
Playing in the correct position helps, which is on the right wing on the top line. In addition, Meier is being utilized in the bumper position, which is in the slot and right in front of the net, on the power play. He did a lot of damage in that position for the Devils last season and with the San Jose Sharks.
Now, Meier is humble and will play wherever he is assigned, but you can see he is more comfortable on the right than the left side. Not to mention, Meier is fully healthy from all the injuries that have plagued him during the season.
For those with higher expectations from Meier, he leads the Devils in goals (27) dating back to last season when he was acquired from the Sharks. So Meier has done his job but might not have had the role he should have when he came over.
We know the Devils are out of the playoffs, but having a healthy Timo Meier for the remainder of this season gives the Devils a chance to compete and build on something heading toward next season.
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