-
Follow Us
On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The New Jersey Devils announced Tuesday that forward Timo Meier is slated to have offseason surgery on his shoulder. The surgery will be performed by team doctors. It is not expected to keep Meier out for the start of training camp in September.
In his first full season with the Devils, Meier scored 28 goals and added 24 assists in 69 games. He led the team in goals but was inconsistent at times, including a 29-game stretch in which he scored six goals and recorded 11 points.
It was the first season of Meier’s new eight-year deal he signed with the Devils last June. Worth $70.4 million, Meier didn’t quite live up to the billing of his $8.8 million AAV.
The Devils acquired Meier via trade from the San Jose Sharks last season, the best goalscoring season of his career. Meier scored 40 goals, topping the 35 he had the season prior. It was his third 30-goal season and put him on an elite list of players with 35+ goals over the last two seasons.
Meier missed some time this season and still scored 28 goals. He had a 33-goal pace in 82 games and likely would have gotten to 30 if he didn’t miss 13 games. Nonetheless, Meier’s expectations will be the same next season and Devils fans may run out of patience if he can’t replicate his 30-goal seasons.
Devils are in a questionable spot
After establishing a new franchise high with 112 points last season the Devils and their fans had thoughts of a Stanley Cup run in 2023-24. What commenced was a struggling back and forth of solid play mixed with sloppy play, with the team never really getting going.
The underlying metrics were brutal for the Devils this season, hence why they won 14 fewer games and recorded 31 fewer points than a year ago. Injuries didn’t help either and Meier’s surgery shows there were even more physical problems ailing the Devils.
Meier deserves a round of applause for playing through something that requires surgery and shoulders are important to a hockey player. How he was able to still score almost 30 goals is a feat worth cheering for.
As for the Devils’ future, that remains in question. New Jersey has reached the playoffs just twice since losing the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. The Devils finished with a losing record in nine of those seasons.
The expectation will be a return to the postseason, so long as the team stays healthy, especially its stars. That includes Timo Meier and Jack Hughes, two dynamic skaters who can be real problem-makers for opponents. If they are at the top of their games, it’s likely the Devils are too.
It’s always proven to be tough to get into the playoffs from the Metropolitan Division. With a few offseason moves, the Devils could have the tools to make a run or at the very least be in the conversation into the second half of the 2024-25 season.
More must-reads:
- Rangers' Vincent Trocheck downplays second-round showdown with former team
- Bruins HC calls out All-Star for lack of playoff production
- The 'MLB Rookies of the Year' quiz
Breaking News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
