Devils to begin contract talks with Meier this week, GM says

BUFFALO --The New Jersey Devils this week will begin serious discussions to lock up Timo Meier long term, general manager Tom Fitzgerald said Tuesday.

Fitzgerald said the plan is to speak with Meier's agent, Claude Lemieux, in the coming days in an attempt to woo the forward into signing a multiyear pact. The 26-year-old becomes a restricted free agent July 1 and is one year away from unrestricted free agency, a scenario New Jersey would like to avoid.

"We would love nothing better to tie him up long term," Fitzgerald told NHL.com at the NHL Scouting Combine. "That's our goal. That's what Claude and I will go through.

"I want them to understand what New Jersey is, what the organization is, the living -- I think New Jersey is a diamond in the rough -- the travel, all the positive things. Give him a chance to settle in and go: 'OK, I hope you want to be here.' Those are some of the things we'll go through."

Meier was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 26 for forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Andreas Johnsson, defensemen Video: Contract extension talks between Meier and the Devils and Video: Contract extension talks between Meier and the Devils, a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and a second- and seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The Devils also received defensemen Scott Harrington and Video: Contract extension talks between Meier and the Devils, forward prospect Video: Contract extension talks between Meier and the Devils, goalie prospect Video: Contract extension talks between Meier and the Devils, and a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft. The Sharks retained 50 percent of Meier's salary.

Fitzgerald said the trade was made with the intention of having Meier in the Devils' plans for years to come. At the same time, he wanted the wing to finish the season without the distraction of concerning himself with his next deal.

"Our goal from the get-go was to have him just come in with no pressure about contract talks or anything and get comfortable with the group," Fitzgerald said.

Meier had 52 points (31 goals, 21 assists) in 57 games with the Sharks before the trade, and 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 21 games with the Devils in the regular season.

Fitzgerald said Meier's production in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games (four points; two goals, two assists) is understandable.

"It's really hard to come in and understand a new system," he said. "As a player, I've done it twice. It's really hard. Our system's hard too, the [defensive] zone, it's difficult to understand. And it takes some time. Coaches say it takes at least 20 games to get used to a system, so you evaluate your team after 20 games, right? And for sure it took some adjustment."

Meier (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) is the rare combination of hustle and muscle, making him the type of power forward teams desperately covet.

In 472 regular-season games with the Sharks and Devils, he has 330 points (163 goals, 167 assists) and 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 46 playoff games. He had an NHL career-high 76 points (35 goals, 41 assists) in 77 games with the Sharks last season.