Timo Meier asks agent to negotiate eight-year deal to stay with Devils

According to New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald, pending RFA Timo Meier has told his agent that he would like to sign a maximum eight-year deal to remain with the team.

Former Devils forward Claude Lemieux is listed as Meier’s agent.

Fitzgerald told reporters on Friday that he spoke with Meier on Thursday, who said he wanted to stay in New Jersey for the maximum length on his next deal.

“We have a big RFA that’s pending right now, we’re working towards an agreement, we’re in negotiations,” Fitzgerald said.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Thursday evening that the Devils will be looking to file for club-elected arbitration with the winger.

Meier is coming off a four-year, $24 million deal that he originally signed with San Jose in 2019. The ninth overall pick was traded to New Jersey ahead of the NHL trade deadline and scored 14 points in 21 games. He had four points in 11 playoff games, as well.

Meier had a career-high 76 points with San Jose in 2021-22, but set a new personal best with 40 goals this season. Meier has eclipsed the 30-goal mark three times in his career, while also breaking the 60-point barrier three times.

The 26-year-old from Herrisau, Switzerland, is a physically dominant forward that can score, hit, and bring energy to every shift. He didn’t produce as expected with the Devils, but if Meier is able to stick with the club, it would be a huge boost to the team’s Stanley Cup hopes over the next few years.

New Jersey signed Jesper Bratt to an eight-year deal with an AAV of $7.875 million on Thursday. making him the second-highest-paid forward on the Devils. With $26.4 million in projected cap space, the Devils have a host of other RFAs this summer. Other than Meier, decisions will need to be made on RFAs MacKenzie Blackwood, Nathan Bastian, Jesper Boqvist, Michael McLeod, Yegor Sharangovich and Kevin Bahl. Erik Haula, Tomas Tatar, Miles Wood and Ryan Graves are all pending UFAs.