High wages, disappointing performance: Meier is criticized by the New Jersey Devils

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The bar is high for Timo Meier. The 27-year-old himself has set them so high with his performances and goals. With 40 goals, he finally established himself among the NHL’s scoring machines last season. And because his contract with the hopeless San Jose Sharks expired, the Appenzeller became the most popular player on the transfer market at the beginning of this year. Meier mania in the NHL.

The New Jersey Devils won the race. The Sharks received forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsson, defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotiuk, a first-round draft pick with which they then drafted Quentin Musty, as well as a second- and seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft, while receiving, among others, current ZSC defender Scott Harrington moved to the east coast with Meier.

In the playoffs, in which the Devils fell to Carolina in the second round after defeating arch-rival New York Rangers, Meier was unable to score as hoped (2 goals and assists in 11 games), but he pushed the game forward with his dynamism and created many scoring opportunities.

When the Swiss signed an eight-year, $70.4 million contract in the summer, fans in New Jersey rejoiced.

Meier is no longer playing with the stars

But now there is unrest at the gates of New York. The Devils are behind in the play-off places, which is also, but not only, due to the injuries to captain Nico Hischier (missed 11 games) and star striker Jack Hughes (missed 5 games). The balance in coach Lindy Ruff’s team is not right. And Meier has received particular criticism.

He only scored five goals and six assists in 18 games, which is not expected from a player paid $8.8 million per year. But that alone wouldn’t be a concern if the game didn’t go past Meier, which is also reflected in his advanced stats. And a number from the statistical mothballs also contradicts him: at -15 he has by far the worst plus/minus record of the team.

Since returning from an injury that forced him to miss seven games, Coach Ruff no longer uses him next to Hughes or Hischier, but on the third line. It appears that Meier, who enjoys carrying the disc and developing moves towards goal, cannot make the most of his strengths alongside dominant playmakers. Even in the national team, the star duo Hischier-Meier often did not achieve the desired effect at 5-on-5.

Meier has only been on the ice for about 15 minutes per game lately. Not much for the team’s highest paid player. But the Devils had success against Vancouver (6:5), Seattle (2:1) and Calgary (4:2). Every win takes a little pressure off Meier. And it would be a mistake to write off the man from Herisau.

Source : Blick