Timo Meier trade: Who won the Devils and Sharks deal?

Devils grade: A+

It’s astounding anyone has gotten above 30 goals on this Sharks team this year, but Meier is one special player. With back-to-back 30 goal seasons — three overall in his seven-year career — Meier has made himself the top trade chip this season. And now, the Devils have added him to their roster ahead of a hopefully deep playoff push.

Meier will slide perfectly into the Devils’ top six, which has been carried heavily by Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier this season. Netting Meier to help ease the scoring burden on the Devils’ top players is a great piece of work from general manager Tom Fitzgerald. For those worrying about an extension, as Meier is a UFA come summer, it seems as if the 26-year-old forward is open to an extension.

Not only that, the Devils also didn’t give up a single player of note to land Meier, preserving their current core and major future prospects in one fell swoop. The two first rounders are a high price, make no mistake, but the Devils are fully in their win-now window and are flexing accordingly.