Timo Meier's Insights | THREE THINGS

Timo Meier is officially a member of the New Jersey Devils. At 9 p.m. ET the
news became official
, Timo Meier is a New Jersey Devil as Tom
Fitzgerald lands his man
. The news sent waves through the NHL, Meier, widely considered the top available player ahead of Friday's trade deadline, and for the first time, Meier appeared on a video conference call as a member of the New Jersey Devils.
After seven years with the San Jose Sharks, Meier is turning the page onto a new chapter. Although the two teams play in different conferences, in different time zones and at different ends of the country, Meier isn't unfamiliar with what has been brewing in New Jersey, whether it's because the team has shot up the standings this season or because the team now houses four players from Switzerland on the active roster (Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler, Akira Schmid, and now Meier).
"It's definitely been a crazy day with a lot of emotions," Meier said on his first conference call as a Devil, "being (in San Jose) for seven years and then, having this new chapter coming my way it's definitely very exciting. So it's definitely a very special day and, I heard so many good things about the New Jersey Devils, not just their team, but their organization as well and obviously their fan base.
In this edition of Three Things, presented by Geico, we check in with the newest member of the Devils to see what he knows and what excited him about his new team.

2.

His Friend Nico

The answer is: Yes. Meier, even before appearing on his media conference call, 45 minutes after the trade was finalized, has already talked with captain Nico Hischier and defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. The three players are very familiar with one another, all three are Swiss natives and have been teammates at one point or another on the Swiss national team rosters.
"We've talked on the phone, we're both really excited," Meier said of talking to Hischier. "We've talked before, and he's told me some good things about New Jersey, the same with Jonas. I'm really excited to join these two guys. From what I've heard it's going to be great."
"He's a very good hockey player, I think you guys all know that watching him," Meier said, asked about Hischier, "and he just kind of leads by example, on the ice, off the ice. He plays a solid defensive game, he's very skilled offensively. He's got great, great tools. He's a guy that's super easy to play with. If I get to play with him, there are no adjustments you have to make, he's very adaptable. He keeps getting better, so just having the opportunity to be on the same squad as him, definitely excites me."

3.

From Bottom to Top

The whirlwind of being traded is one thing, but then there's the realization you're going from a team at the bottom of the standings - San Jose is 29th in the 32-team league - to springboarding up to the top with New Jersey at 3rd. Meier said he hasn't had a moment to even think about that yet but is sure it will hit him at some point. But ultimately, what he says, is that New Jersey gives him a chance to compete and to win.
"I'm a very competitive guy and I want to win," he shared, "I wanted to win when I was in San Jose obviously we haven't been doing great, but I hate losing. So, to join a team that's been winning more, I'm gonna try to help them continue that and that's how I am. I just hate losing, so I'm looking forward to facing the new challenges with my new team and, just getting to work. It's going to be fun."