The Devils and forward Timo Meier have agreed to an eight-year, $70.4 million contract extension, the club announced Wednesday.
The long-term contract extension for the Swiss forward carries an $8.8 million average annual value.
“We were excited to acquire Timo at the deadline, but it’s an even greater feeling knowing that he’ll be here for the next eight seasons,” Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said in a statement. “Timo’s unique blend of style of play, goal-scoring ability, and physical presence will prove valuable for us.”
The 26-year-old right wing tallied 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 21 games with a 17:47 average ice time after arriving from San Jose, where he recorded 52 points (31 goals, 21 assists) in 57 games.
In 11 playoff games for the Devils, he scored two goals and had two assists with a 16:52 average time on the ice. He also led New Jersey with 37 hits in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“In talking with him, Timo realized, and I always believed, that this is the right place for him as a player and a person. We’ve locked up another piece of our young core that is looking to take that next step together for greater success,” Fitzgerald’s statement continued.
Meier arrived in New Jersey along with left wing Timur Ibragimov, defensemen Scott Harrington and Santeri Hatakka, goaltender Zachary Emond and a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft in a blockbuster Feb. 26 trade with San Jose that saw defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotiuk and left wings Andreas Johnsson and Fabian Zetterlund and a 2023 first-round pick (No, 26 overall) and two 2024 draft picks go to the Sharks.
Earlier in June, Fitzgerald said the team was “in negotiations” and “working towards an agreement” with Meier, who asked his agent to negotiate an eight-year deal to stay with the team.
New Jersey signed forward Jesper Bratt to an eight-year extension with an AAV of $7.785 million on June 16.
