After days of speculation, the deal finally got done. On Sunday evening, the New Jersey Devils announced they had acquired Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks in a huge trade. There are a lot of pieces, so let’s break this down properly.
It’s Timo Time
So, what do the New Jersey Devils get in the Timo Meier trade? The Devils acquired the highly coveted winger who can score from either side of the rink. The acquisition makes their already explosive offense even more so. Meier has been a 30+ goal scorer three times in his five seasons in San Jose, including 31 goals this season and climbing. General manager Tom Fitzgerald has indicated that he’s all in on a potentially deep playoff run this season. This trade makes it even more possible. The Sharks will also retain 50% of Meier’s salary for this season. Whether or not he receives an extension will depend on how much cap space the Devils can relieve in the offseason. Meier will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season.
Other Players Going to the Devils
In addition to Timo Meier, the Devils acquired several minor leaguers in the trade package. They acquired forward Timur Ibragimov, defensemen Scott Harrington and Santeri Hatakka, and goaltender Zachary Emond. Ibragimov has 11 goals and 21 assists in 53 games with San Jose’s ECHL affiliate in Wichita this season. Harrington has split time between the AHL and NHL during his eleven-year career, but has playoff experience with Columbus in 2019. Hatakka is in his second professional season in North America, but has only played eight games for the San Jose Barracuda this season. Emond is also in his second professional season and has primarily played in Wichita. Expect most of these players to be in the Devils’ farm system in Utica and Adirondack. Harrington, however, could be helpful for the Devils’ defensive depth, especially in a playoff run. In addition to these players, the Devils also acquired a fifth-round selection in 2024, which originally belonged to Colorado.
Sharks Get Picks and a Top Devils Prospect
For the Devils fan, this trade is huge. But the Sharks fan is asking, “What did we get in return?” The answer: your Sharks got back a lot. The first pieces are draft picks: the Sharks will acquire the Devils’ 2023 first-round pick and conditional first-round picks in 2024 and possibly 2025. The Sharks also acquired prospect defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin. Mukhamadullin was drafted 20th overall in the 2020 Entry Draft and was the Devils’ fifth-ranked prospect according to The Athletic. The Russian defenseman has size (6’4”, 190 lbs.), above average skating ability, and a cannon of a one-time slap shot. Mukhamadulin got a taste of the North American game last season when he appeared in three Calder Cup Playoff games with Utica. After the Devils drafted Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec in consecutive drafts, though, it made Mukhamadulin a movable piece.
Other Players Going to the Sharks
In addition to draft picks and a top prospect, the Sharks get additional pieces in the Timo Meier trade. San Jose also acquired forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsson and defenseman Nikita Okhotyuk. Zetterland became a fixture in the Devils’ lineup starting last season. The Swede forward is fast and a solid forechecker. Johnsson was acquired by the Devils in 2020, but has struggled to fit in Lindy Ruff’s system. He’s spent most of this season in Utica, scoring 29 points in 36 games. Okhotyuk is a tough, stay-at-home defenseman who was drafted by the Devils in the second round in 2019. He was ranked 13th in The Athletic’s prospect pool rankings. It’s been difficult for the Russian to break into the Devils’ lineup, though. Now, Okhotyuk will have an extended opportunity with San Jose. The Sharks will also receive a seventh-round selection in the 2024 Entry Draft.
Who Wins the Trade?
So, which team wins this trade? Initially, my feelings were that Fitzgerald fleeced the Sharks. But after this breakdown, it turns out both teams did very well. The Devils acquired a top-six forward without having to surrender a top two prospect or a current player on the roster. (It was believed the Sharks wanted Dawson Mercer.) They also acquire defensive depth in Harrington and players to fill their farm system. The Sharks, meanwhile, receive a top-five prospect and three NHL-ready players who can be inserted into the lineup right away. They’ll also walk away with anywhere between one and three first-round picks depending on how far the Devils advance in the playoffs the next three seasons.
For both teams, it’s a new era. The Devils are completing a rebuild while the Sharks’ rebuild is just beginning.
