Timo Meier trade rumors: Five potential destinations for the Sharks forward at the 2023 deadline

The NHL trade deadline is usually a chance for teams to reschedule loans to competitors. It’s not often that a young, high-quality player is available who can change the direction of all 32 teams.

This is also the case in 2023 with Sharks striker Timo Meier. The winger is believed to be one of the top targets for the March 3 deadline and has plenty of interested clubs.

Meier, 26, is a restricted free agent this summer. He and the Sharks tried to negotiate a long-term extension, but both sides couldn’t come to an agreement. Instead, GM Mike Grier announced the winger was available.

The difference between Meier and other appointment options is that he would not be a rental. As an RFA, he will not go to the open market this summer. Instead, the team he’s on retains his rights and can either sign him for his $10 million qualifying offer, grant him an extension, or swap his rights elsewhere.

The number 9 of the 2015 draft has spent the last seven seasons in San Jose. He is a dynamic offensive player, able to create both on and off the puck. He set a career-high 76 points last year and will attack this year as he has reached 52 points in 57 games.

It will cost a pretty penny to bring the Swiss forward but it will be worth it for any club capable of striking a deal with the Sharks.

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Sporting News takes a look at five potential targets for Meier by the 2023 close.

Five possible landing spots for Timo Meier

New Jersey Devil

The Devils have reportedly been heavily involved in the striker since rumors of a Meier trade surfaced months ago. New Jersey has both the cap space and draft picks and prospects to make a deal with San Jose work.

While Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec should be off the table, Alexander Holtz is the prospect most rumored to be heading back the way from San Jose. There have also been reports recently that the Sharks are still asking about Dawson Mercer, who is of value as a young NHL player.

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New Jersey took a big step forward this year and will be there in the postseason. A move to Meier would help position the Devils well not just for this season but for years to come. He would join a core group already long-term signed with Jack Hughes, Ondrej Palat and Nico Hischier, who has played internationally with Meier in Switzerland.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues have emerged as potential suitors for Meier after acquiring two more first-round picks for 2023 from trades by Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly. It gives them the draft capital needed to work out a deal with the Sharks and they have desirable prospects in Jimmy Snuggerud and Zachary Bolduc.

Armstrong aims to retool rather than rebuild the organization, and bringing Meier on board would aid in that process. St. Louis has a young core of Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich so the building blocks are in place but the acquisition of someone of Meier’s caliber would set the club well for the future.

In order for Meier to secure a long-term contract with St. Louis, Armstrong may need to transfer one of his defense attorneys. Colton Parayko and Torey Krug are the two that make sense, both with four years left in their businesses and making $6.5 million a year.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights want to make a move by deadline. With Mark Stone on long-term injured reserve following back surgery, Vegas have plenty of room to find someone for their top-six forward squad, and Meier is one of the names the team is eyeing.

GM Kelly McCrimmon has never shied away from trading Vegas’ first-round picks or top prospects. Brendan Brisson and Zach Dean are likely candidates to be involved in a package for Meier.

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The big question is: Are the Sharks willing to sell Meier to one of their biggest rivals? This wouldn’t just be renting for half a year to help out Vegas; San Jose would play Meier constantly for the next several years.

Carolina hurricanes

That summer, we saw the Sharks and Hurricanes strike a deal that sent Bay Area defenseman Brent Burns to Raleigh. Could we see the same thing happening with Meier?

The Hurricanes have one of the most diverse teams in the league, but they lack something on offense. Max Pacioretty was thought to be the answer when he made his Carolina debut in January, but he’s done for the year after injuring his Achilles tendon again.

GM Don Waddell is known for preferring not to trade for rent on the deadline. Meier would fit that criteria and the canes have the cap space to make it work. The inclusion of Meier would position Carolina to dominate the East for years.

Winnipeg Jets

Reports of the Jets’ interest in acting for Meier have been mounting lately. Winnipeg isn’t traditionally a team that makes big strides to deadline, but given their success this year and how wide open the Western Conference seems to be, it’s a perfect time for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to get aggressive.

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The Jets have just over $7 million in cap space available, so they can make it work financially. In terms of prospects, Cole Perfetti is probably off-limits for the Sharks, but between Brad Lambert, Chaz Lucius and Rutger McGroarty, Cheveldayoff has enough to work with.

The Jets have a top-heavy forward group and Meier would relieve Kyle Connor, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. It’s also pretty well known that Dubois won’t be staying in Winnipeg for long and will be gone by the summer of 2024. Someone has to replace their production.