New Jersey Devils’ Timo Meier to return to lineup vs. Canadiens

Meier, 27, has yet to play a game in 2024, having missed the past six games due to a mid-body injury, likely believed to be an abdomen issue. The Devils went 3-2-1 in his absense.

Meier is currently projected to play alongside Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer for Wednesday’s game against the Canadiens. That combination has a kept the goals even at 4 a piece and have a 43.52% expected goal share in 58:54 of ice time together, the second most frequent combination featuring Meier.

Meier has struggled this season, with just 9 goals and 6 assists for 15 points in 28 games. It’s been an issue for him since joining the Devils at the trade deadline last year, with just 18 goals and 29 points in 49 regular season games and 2 goals and 4 points in 11 playoff games.

Ruff also provided an update to defenseman Brendan Smith’s injury from Monday’s game against the Boston Bruins. Smith, 34, suffered a sprained knee in that game, although a timeline for return was not provided.

Smith has had one of his more productive seasons by his standards, with 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points in 34 games this season. His 12-point pace in an 82-game season would be the most points he’s had in a season since the 2018-19 season.

Ruff gave a bit more of an update on Jack Hughes as well, indicating that the superstar center is still week-to-week with an upper-body injury and not close to returning. Hughes has missed the last four games due to the injury, with the Devils going 1-2-1 in his absence.

Hughes has had another incredible season when he’s been healthy, with 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points in 32 games. In a full 82-game season, he would be on pace for 115 points, which would well surpass his career-high of 99 set last season.

The Devils will look to end a stretch of three losses in four games when they host the Canadiens on Wednesday at 7 p.m. EST. They currently sit in seventh in the Metropolitan Division with a 22-16-3 record, and are two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.