Devils acquire Timo Meier from Sharks for package of picks, prospects, and players

The New Jersey Devils have landed arguably the best player available at this year's deadline, acquiring winger Timo Meier (with the full 50 percent salary retention), depth defenceman Scott Harrington, prospect Santeri Hatakka, and minor leaguers Timur Ibragimov and Zachary Émond from the San Jose Sharks for Andreas Johnsson, Fabian Zetterlund, Nikita Okhotyuk, Shakir Mukhamadullin, a 2023 first-round pick, and a conditional 2024 first-round pick, 

League trade call is done. Timo Meier is officially a New Jersey Devil.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 27, 2023

Meier, 26, is a pending restricted free agent in the final season of a four-year, $24 million contract that carries a $6 million cap charge annually. Should the Devils try to retain Meier's services beyond this season – and it seems like that's the plan – then the qualifying offer will be $10 million. Of course, the two parties can iron out an extension outside those parameters ahead of the June 25 deadline.

There is no Meier contract extension as part of this. The Devils became comfortable doing the trade without having him signed to an extension as part of it.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 26, 2023

This trade is a home run swing by the Devils, an offensive juggernaut that just got that much more potent. Meier has 52 points in 57 games as of this writing and has scored at a 0.7 points per game clip across his seven seasons of NHL action.

Timo Meier, acquired by NJ, is a top scoring winger, an elite driver of offensive possession and scoring chances with excellent hands and instincts in tight. A big player who doesn't shy away from physicality either. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/PvM7gP2kVk

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 26, 2023

Aside from those points, Meier plays the sort of robust physical game that teams tend to covet at this time of year. It's a big reason why many regarded him as the best player available at this year's deadline.

Harrington, meanwhile, is a 29-year-old pending unrestricted free agent playing on a one-year deal valued at $750,000.

Scott Harrington, acquired by NJ, is a depth defenceman. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/uud5tgKi3O

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 26, 2023

For the Sharks, it's about as futures-oriented a haul as possible, which is just what the moment calls for. They sit seventh in the Pacific Division with an 18-30-12 record as of this writing and have a zero percent chance of making the postseason, according to MoneyPuck.