Timo Meier is heading into the new season with a number hanging over him in New Jersey: 30 goals, a total he has not reached since joining the Devils.
That’s the benchmark the Devils hoped he’d chase when they swung the deal for him in the 2022-23 season, sending Fabian Zetterlund, Andreas Johnsson, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Okhotiuk, a 2023 conditional first-round pick, a 2024 conditional second-round pick, and a 2024 seventh-round pick to San Jose. The expectation was clear then, and it still is now - New Jersey wanted a finisher.
So far, Meier has produced solid numbers without quite matching the level he showed with the Sharks. He has scored 28, 26, and 24 goals in his three seasons with the Devils, but he still hasn’t cracked 30 in a New Jersey sweater.
This season could be the one where that changes. With the opener set for Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Devils’ lines appear locked in, and Meier is slated to start on the first line at left wing alongside Nico Hischier and newly acquired Devil Luke Evangelista. On the power play, he’ll be part of the second unit with Evan Rodrigues, Anthony Mantha, Arseny Gritsyuk, and Dougie Hamilton.
That setup gives Meier plenty of runway to make noise. The Devils are lining up pieces that can create chances, and Meier is the kind of shooter who can turn those chances into goals if the finishing sharpens up.
The underlying numbers point in that direction. Last season, Meier posted an expected goals total of 34.9, a figure that sat 11 goals above his actual total of 24. That gap suggests the looks were there even if the results didn’t fully follow.
The volume is there, too. Meier put 269 shots on goal last season, good for ninth in the NHL. His shot also brings real force, with his fastest recorded blast clocked at 94.3 MPH, which put him in the 95th percentile for shooting speed.
For Meier, the path is pretty straightforward: keep firing, finish a little better, and the goals should follow. If he does, the Devils’ attack gets a whole lot more dangerous.
In Other News...
Alexander Holtz Just Revived An Old Devils Development Debate
The Devils trimmed their roster ahead of the official deadline, putting goaltender David Rittich on waivers and claiming Remi Poirier from the Dallas Stars. But the more familiar name in the mix is Alexander Holtz, the former first-round pick New Jersey once hoped would grow into a steady scoring piece.
Holtzs situation has a way of pulling the conversation back to one of the organizations lingering development debates, because he was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights and is now on waivers after limited scoring success. For Devils fans, it is another reminder of how uncertain the path can be for a young forward who arrives with pedigree, leaves with questions, and still leaves plenty of second-guessing behind. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Camp Battle Is Putting One Tough Roster Decision Front And Center
Training camp has done what it usually does for a team with playoff expectations and too many forwards for too few jobs: it has turned the bottom six into the loudest part of the roster conversation. The Devils are still sorting through different third- and fourth-line combinations, with experience and youth both getting a long look as the staff tries to settle on a group that can handle defensive shifts, contribute enough offense and survive the grind of a long season.
Jesper Boqvist, Colin White and Stefan Noesen are among the names in the mix, and the numbers game could eventually force the issue through waivers. Amadeus Lombardi is also part of the equation, with a possible AHL assignment looming as the organization weighs whether he is better served by development time or a spot on the big club. It is the kind of roster squeeze that speaks well of the depth, even if it leaves a few players waiting for the final answer. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Opening Night Will Test A Roster That Suddenly Feels Deeper
The Devils head into opening night looking like a club that carried more than just good vibes out of camp. Their preseason showed a group playing with sharper cohesion and a clearer sense of identity, and it was the kind of stretch that made the roster feel deeper than it did a year ago. Amadeus Lombardi was among the players who turned that opportunity into something more concrete, earning a spot and adding to the sense that the pipeline under Tom Fitzgerald is starting to produce real options.
Now the challenge shifts from summer optimism to a game that counts, with the Flyers waiting to provide an early read on how much of that preseason improvement holds up. Depth can look different once the pace rises and the matchups sharpen, and opening night should say plenty about whether the Devils are simply better equipped for the grind or ready to turn that added depth into an edge right away. [Read more 🡒]