NHL Team Willing to Pay Two Firsts For Timo Meier

PUBLICATION

Aaron Itovitch
February 21, 2023 (7:59 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The San Jose Sharks have a big decision to make regarding Timo Meier.

They'll trade him no matter what, but they will have a choice on the type of package they'll take back.

If they trade with a team like New Jersey, they will likely be getting a mix of picks and prospects. This is desirable if they want to speed up their rebuild.

However, if they're really going all-in on this rebuild, they might prefer just draft picks. One team could make this option very desirable for him with his assets.

St. Louis Blues Making Things Interesting

The St. Louis Blues now have three first-round picks in the exceptional 2023 draft. Two insiders have revealed that the Blues would be willing to pay two of these picks for Timo Meier.

A new team that has entered the chat with Timo Meier I am told it's the St. Louis Blues, and that may be a surprise to some but it shouldn't be. I'm told that the Blues did inquire with the Sharks earlier this week about Timo Meier after executing the trades with Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O'Reilly. This shouldn't be a shock, this is exactly what Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has done in his playbook previously. Think back to the trades he's done in recent years: Kevin Shattenkirk for a first-round pick, he then takes that pick and uses it to acquire Brayden Schenn in the summer. More recently than that, Paul Stastny moved at the deadline for a first-round pick, he then takes that pick in a package to get Ryan O'Reilly.

Now you fast forward, Tarasenko and O'Reilly both fetch first-round picks and the Blues now have three first-round picks this year. My guess is that the Blues will now leverage those first-round picks, and may even keep their first-round pick to try and bring someone like Timo Meier into the fold who can then play with Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas and Brayden Schenn and be a part of that Blues core moving forward with a long term extension. So we know the Hurricanes are very interested, we know the Devils are very interested but I think this race has really heated up in a big big way.

- Frank Seravalli

Yes, we're told the Blues have inquired with San Jose on Timo Meier. Remember the Blues now have three first round picks and my understanding is that the Blues would be ready to part with two first round picks in a package for Meier.

- Pierre LeBrun

These picks obviously wouldn't be their own, but those of the Maple Leafs and the Rangers. The only question is, do the Sharks trust their scouting staff enough to hit on two late first-rounders?

It will be interesting to see what route they take.

Source: Hockey Feed