The 2023 NHL Trade Deadline has been exciting so far, as a handful of top-tier players have already changed teams. Bo Horvat, Ryan O’Reilly, and Vladimir Tarasenko have all been traded from the Western Conference to Eastern Conference contenders as teams race to arm themselves with as much talent before the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
These last few days have really begun to heat up as a handful of trades have occurred as the Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, Vegas Golden Knights, and Dallas Stars have all made trades. With the Trade Deadline so close, rumors have also heated up as insiders around the league continue to report on two of the hottest names still available, Patrick Kane and Timo Meier.
Accorinding to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun the teams in on Meier have been narrowed down to two.
The Devils have been linked to Meier for awhile now as they make the most logical landing spot. They have a need for a top six winger and have the assets to get a deal done. Meier is also close friends with Devils team captain Nico Hischier as they are both from Switzerland which would help with retaining Meier long term.
Meier’s age fits in with the Devils current core as the 26-year-old is just entering his prime. On the season he has recorded 31 goals, 21 assists and 52 points in 57 games as he’s on pace to set a new career high in goals.
LeBrun also mentioned the Vegas Golden Knights as one of the two teams in on Meier, but earlier today they acquired forward Ivan Barbashev from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect Zach Dean. While anything can happen, this definitely may take Vegas out of the running leaving New Jersey as the only team left. If Vegas is still looking to make a splash there is nothing they can offer the Sharks that the Devils can’t match or exceed.
The price to acquire Meier has stayed relatively the same throughout the weeks leading up to the deadline and earlier today it was still being reported that the price is a first round pick, top prospect and a roster player.
With the deadline only five days away on Friday March 3rd, it’s anyone’s guess how this will end. But this is definitely a situation worth monitoring as trades have come together out of nowhere so far. The ball is in general manager Tom Fitzgerald’s court but even if he misses on Meier, the Devils are set to be successful for years to come.
