Devils re-sign forward Timo Meier to 8-year, $70M contract #Devils #resign #Timo #Meier #8year #70M #contract

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Devils secured another piece from last year’s team, re-signing forward Timo Meier to an eight-year, $70.4 million contract through the 2030-31 NHL season.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the signing of the restricted free agent on Wednesday, hours before the start of the league’s draft in Nashville, Tennessee.

The contract will pay the 26-year-old Swiss forward an average of $8.8 million annually with the deal starting at $12 million this upcoming season and winding down to $7.2 million in the last year.

San Jose Sharks hockey player Erik Karlsson poses after winning the Norris Trophy at the NHL Awards, Monday, June 26, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

The San Jose Sharks have acquired goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood from the New Jersey Devils for a sixth-round pick.

FILE - New Jersey Devils left wing Erik Haula reacts after the Devils defeated the New York Rangers in Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Monday, May 1, 2023, in Newark, N.J. The New Jersey Devils have re-signed versatile forward Erik Haula to a three-year, $9.45 million contract through the 2025-26 NHL season. Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the signing on Friday, June 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, Filer)

Veteran forward Erik Haula passed up a chance to enter free agency next month to remain in New Jersey after signing a three-year, $9.45 million contract with the Devils.

FILE - Vancouver Canucks coach Travis Green stands on the bench behind Elias Pettersson (40) and Alex Chiasson (39) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 4, 2021, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The New Jersey Devils have added former Canucks coach Travis Green to Lindy Ruff's staff, in a move announced Thursday, June 22, 2023. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

The New Jersey Devils have added former Vancouver Canucks coach Travis Green to Lindy Ruff’s staff. General manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the move on Thursday, filling the spot that opened when Andrew Brunette was hired as the head coach of the Nashville Predators.

FILE - New Jersey Devils' Jesper Bratt (63) skates against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 11, 2023. The New Jersey Devils locked up one of their talented young players on Thursday, June 15, signing Swedish forward Jesper Bratt to an eight-year, $63 million contract extension.(AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker, File)

The New Jersey Devils locked up one of their talented young players, signing Swedish forward Jesper Bratt to an eight-year, $63 million contract extension.

“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,” Fitzgerald said. “Timo’s unique blend of style of play, goal-scoring ability, and physical presence will prove valuable for us.

Fitzgerald had said in recent weeks the two sides were drawing closer on a deal and it caps a good week for the up-and-coming Devils, who added Calgary Flames leading scorer Tyler Toffoli in a trade on Tuesday night for Yegor Sharangovich and a draft pick.

Fitzgerald has also re-signed center Erik Haula and forward Jesper Bratt, and signed and traded defenseman Damon Severson to Columbus for a draft pick used in the deal for Toffoli.

The Devils made the playoffs this past season for the first time since 2017-18.

Meier began his career with San Jose in 2016-17 and just completed his seventh NHL season. He had nine goals and five assists in 21 regular season games with New Jersey and registered a career-high 40 goals and 17 power-play goals for the entire season. He added two goals and two assists in the playoffs but proved to be a physical presence on the ice in series against the Rangers and Hurricanes.

New Jersey acquired Meier and other compensation from the Sharks in exchange for forwards Andreas Johnsson and Fabian Zetterlund, defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Nikita Okhotiuk and picks.

Meier has represented Switzerland on multiple occasions and is one of four Swiss players on the Devils’ roster with Jonas Siegenthaler, Nico Hischier and goaltender Akira Schmid.