“Already had teary eyes when saying goodbye”

Timo Meier sits in his Denver hotel room when he looks on the phone. He has time to review the crazy past 48 hours. Following his trade to New Jersey, the Appenzell NHL star awaits his new teammates as they begin a brief three-game road trip in Colorado.

“The uncertainty was not always easy,” says Meier. Rumors about a possible transfer of the striker have been circulating for some time. “I tried to block them. Otherwise you have too much on your mind.” He gets an update from his agent about which team is on pole position.

“People have grown on me”

The Appenzeller tried to enjoy every moment with the Sharks. After seven seasons, he will miss his old teammates. “People have grown on me. I’ve made friends that I hope will last. But my eyes watered when I said goodbye.”

When Devils GM Mark Grier called him on Sunday and informed him about the completed transfer, Meier already knew half an hour. Social media is faster, as are countless benefactors. “I was facetiming with colleagues in Switzerland when I got the first messages.”

It is not the first trade in the 26-year-old’s career. In the junior league, the first round draft (2015, San Jose) experienced it in the 2015/16 season. From the Halifax Mooseheads, he is sent to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. “At that time I was in Switzerland. That made it easier to deal with. Still, I put together an Ikea cabinet to relieve the stress,” Meier recalls with a smile.

This time he just packs two suitcases of clothes and some personal items before the new adventure begins. He will keep his apartment in San Jose for the time being. “A trade is part of top sport. If I had a family, children or pets, everything would be more difficult.” Meijer is single.

He describes the current change as emotional. “It’s mixed feelings. Seven years is a long time. But the anticipation is great. I end up in a young team that is on the rise. This is another development step in my career.”

Meier will have some time to really get used to the new team. Because the striker is currently injured in the upper body. “I’m well on my way back. But I want to be 100% fit before I play again. The season can take a long time.” Third in the Eastern Conference, the Devils are on course for the playoffs.

Thanks to his Swiss teammates Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler and Akira Schmid, it will certainly be easier for him to settle in. “I’m looking forward to raclette with them once we get back to New Jersey,” says Meier, before training with the Devils for the first time.

Source : Blick