Timo Meier
Age: 29 Position: Forward
Statistics: 24 goals, 20 assists, 44 points (77 games)
Contract: Eight years, $70.4 million (five years remaining)
Grade: C-
2025-26 Review
The Timo Meier stint in New Jersey has not exactly gone swimmingly and 2025-26 was by far the worst of the three-plus seasons with the organization. Meier did break the 20-goal mark for the eighth time in his career, however, his 44 points was his lowest since the 2020-21 season.
The more traditional statistics painted a much better picture of Meier. Here is how he ranked at five-on-five in several important possession metrics:
- Corsi-for percentage: 5th
- Expected goals-for percentage: 3rd
- Scoring chances-for percentage: 5th
- High-danger Corsi-for percentage: 5th
Note, these rankings are among 30 Devils to play at least five games this season.
Despite this, the isolated on-ice impacts were troublesome. Offensively, Meier ranked in the league’s 18th percentile and his overall on-ice impacts were in the 30th percentile according to Evolving Hockey’s goals above replacement metrics. This, combined with the strong possession metrics usually indicate one of two things. Either Meier was just a passenger to the strong play around him or he wasn’t able to finish off the chances that were being created for him. Further analysis quickly indicates it was the latter.
As mentioned above, Meier only scored 24 goals in 2025-26. This despite having 269 shots on goal which led the Devils and ranked ninth in the NHL as a whole. The Swiss winger shot a startling 8.9% which is the lowest since the 2020-21 season. His career shooting percentage is 10.6% and he has shot above that mark since joining the club in each season until this past one.
Furthermore, according to several analytical sources, Meier was one of the league’s leaders in goals scored below expected. Moneypuck credited Meier with 34.9 expected goals (13th most) and Natural Stat Trick had Meier at 38.04 expected goals (ninth most). Moneypuck had Meier with the fourth-worst goals above expected figure at -10.9. This was among 940 skaters to play at least a minute of ice time this season.
Long story short, Meier’s shortcomings in 2025-26 was simply due to his inability to finish off his plethora of chances like he usually does. Scoring greater than 10 goals less than what was expected based off the shots he was taking would tank anyones isolated numbers. Not to mention, Meier had quite a strong defensive season (58th percentile on-ice defensive metrics), not something he is known for. But, when you are the highest paid forward on the team due to your goal scoring, and you are unable to convert the chances you should, the season as a whole is not going to be viewed in a strong manner.
2026-27 Outlook
Meier’s in New Jersey for the long haul. He is only three years into an eight-year contract and has a full no-movement clause until the 2028-29 season. But, despite the down season, that should not be viewed as a bad thing.
Meier is a major bounce back candidate. Anytime a player shoots two percent less than their career average or finishes their chances extremely below expected, they’re usually in the offing for a big season the following year. Especially if those chances show themselves again. Meier is bound to be playing alongside either Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes which should once again give him a plethora of those aforementioned chances and the opportunity to bounce back in a big way.
Not to mention, over his last 25 games Meier scored 10 goals and posted 16 points. That is a 33-goal pace. Expect big things out of Meier in 2026-27 despite his below average 2025-26 season.
Note, all statistics are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey, and Moneypuck.