New Jersey Devils expected to file for club-elected arbitration with Timo Meier

The New Jersey Devils will be looking to file for club-elected arbitration with winger Timo Meier, according to Elliotte Friedman.

Meier will be a restricted free agent this offseason after the conclusion of his four-year contract with a $6 million cap hit that he signed with the San Jose Sharks, although he comes with a qualifying offer of $10 million due to the salary in the final year of his deal being the same total. There’s no guarantee the Devils go through to arbitration with Meier even if they file, but it allows them to retain his rights and continue a potential long-term negotiation without picking up his $10 million qualifying offer.

Meier was traded from the Sharks to the Devils in late February as a trade deadline addition for the team to bolster their roster for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a trade that included 9 players and 13 pieces, with Scott Harrington, Zacharie Emond, Santeri Hatakka, Timur Ibragimov, and a 2024 4th-round pick that belonged to the Colorado Avalanche going to the Devils in exchange for Andreas Johnsson, Fabian Zetterlund, Nikita Okhotiuk, Shakir Mukhamadullin, conditional 2023 first & 2024 second round picks, and a 2024 7th round pick going to the Sharks.

Meier had one of his best seasons in 2022-23, scoring a career-high 40 goals along with 26 assists for 66 points in 78 games, including 9 goals, 5 assists, and 14 points in 21 games with the Devils. He did underperform in the playoffs though, with just two goals, two assists, and four points in 11 games as the Devils were eliminated in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.

The Devils have already started to put things together for next year’s team, as along with this move with Meier’s negotiations, they’ve also locked up Jesper Bratt to an eight-year contract with a $7.875 million cap hit. They also moved on from defenseman Damon Severson, dealing the pending unrestricted free agent to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 80th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The Devils aren’t the only team opting for club-elected arbitration with a player either, as the Ottawa Senators are expected to do the same with winger Alex DeBrincat. Like the Devils, the Sens did so to avoid DeBrincat’s $9 million qualifying offer while still retaining signing rights.