It’s been a heater of a season for San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier, leading many to wonder where the 26-year-old Czech winger will play next.
Meier, who was a first round draft pick in 2015, is on pace to put up his best year-end total for goals (45) and points scored (77), with the seventh year forward serving as a one-man offensive tour de force in the South Bay this season.
With Meier on the verge of being a restricted free agent, BetCalifornia.com wanted to evaluate where the Czech scoring machine could play next.
Here’s where we see the 26-year-old suiting up after the NHL’s trade deadline concludes on March 3. While there is no legal California sports betting for action on the deadline, stay close to this site for hypothetical odds and more during the NHL season.
Hypothetical Odds of Timo Meier’s Team After Trade Deadline
Where Meier Could Play Next
With the Sharks sitting 16 points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, it seems like now may be the time for GM Mike Grier to pull the trigger on a franchise-altering deal.
Given Meier’s impending free agency, now would seem like the right time to deal the all-star winger, allowing San Jose to hoard draft picks and coveted prospects in return.
There’s a non-zero percent chance that Grier decides to let it ride, however, as Meier’s restricted free agent status means that the Sharks have the right to match any offers made by prospective clubs.
That’s why BetCalifornia.com lists San Jose as the most likely destination (+160) for Meier’s services post-deadline, though a trade is still quite likely in the weeks ahead.
Other Suitors Will Line Up
Outside of San Jose, Meier’s landing spots include franchises that are in playoff contention, such as the Devils (+385), Rangers (+545) and Kraken (+1200), as well as those looking for a shot in the arm to get on the right side of the bubble (the Sabres at +1150).
The Devils and Rangers make sense as a landing spot for Meier, given their knock-down-drag-out fight for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division.
Both are currently in the top-three in the division, sitting at 70 and 64 points, but could use another offensive cog to stay ahead of the proverbial Joneses.
The Sabres, on the other hand, are currently one point out of the final playoff spot in the East and have not made the playoffs since the 2010-11 season. That could propel the club to go all-in on the last part of the regular season, making a deal for Meier seem like a no-brainer to get back to the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade.
The Kraken are in a unique spot, having gotten themselves squarely into the Western Conference bracket after after finishing dead-last a year ago. With Seattle sitting dead-even with the Kings and a point ahead of the Golden Knights, now could be the time for GM Ron Francis to gamble on a red-hot winger for a playoff run.
One way or another, expect Meier’s name to be bandied about over the next month as NHL franchises make heads or tails of the league’s trade deadline.
