Timo Meier drawing interest from Rangers?

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.