Devils, Meier working on long-term deal
Timo Meier and the New Jersey Devils appear to be on the same page in their contract negotiations.
Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald revealed Friday that the pending restricted free agent's camp is seeking a long-term pact, just like the team is.
"Timo knows since I spoke to him (on June 15)," Fitzgerald said, according to NHL.com's Mike G. Morreale. "He knows how much we want to continue this relationship, long term, and he's reiterated that to me ... this is where he wants to be.
"He sees himself as a Devil and has asked his agent to negotiate an eight-year deal with us," Fitzgerald continued. "It's music to my ears, and we'll continue to kind of chip away at it, but the goal is to have Timo Meier in a Devils uniform for the next eight years."
On June 7, Fitzgerald said contract talks with the winger would start that week and that "we would love nothing better (than) to tie him up long term."
On Thursday, the Devils reportedly filed for arbitration with Meier, who's one season away from unrestricted free agency. The two sides can still come to an agreement before the yet-to-be-scheduled hearing, which would take place this summer.
He's also eligible to sign an offer sheet any time before July 5 at 5 p.m. ET.
The Devils landed Meier in a swap with the San Jose Sharks five days before this past season's trade deadline. The highly coveted forward fit in well with his new club down the stretch of the regular season, notching nine goals and five assists in 21 games. But he was less effective in the playoffs, collecting two goals and two assists in 11 contests.
The 26-year-old Swiss skater turns 27 on Oct. 8, around the time next season begins. Meier racked up a career-high 40 goals to go along with 26 assists combined with the Devils and Sharks in 2022-23, coming off a 35-goal, 76-point campaign with San Jose the previous season.
On Thursday, New Jersey also signed forward Jesper Bratt to an eight-year contract at an average annual value of $7.875 million. The Devils have approximately $26 million in cap space but have 11 non-injured pending free agents (RFAs and UFAs) to sign.