There’s a lot going on here, despite everyone wanting to dance on Meier’s grave, that is missing from most posts in this thread.
1. Timo is and always has been both a slow starter as well as a streaky player. He’ll explode for 8 goals in 5 games, then go scoreless for 10. It’s just how he is, it’ll even out over the course of the season.
2. Timo has always been a lazy player at times. His effort level is not great and yeah, he is prone to bad stick penalties. Something you live with for him.
3. He’s always been a player who is best with the puck on his stick, which is why he thrived the most with linemates like Hertl, Pavelski, and Couture, who are excellent off-puck and only need small touches to be effective rather than long stretches carrying the puck. There’s a reason Meier was never played with Thornton for any serious amount of time despite being that prototypical goalscorer you’d think would thrive with Thornton.
4. He’s spent his whole career up until now on a team that was built to wear you down in the offensive zone with methodical cycling, putting everything on net from the points looking for tips and rebounds. Now, he’s in a quick-strike, transition-focused team that is more creative but less oppressive than the good Sharks teams Meier was on in 2017-2019. Honestly, I thought that he would thrive with the Devils, but now I see that there’ll be a pretty significant adjustment period.
I’m certainly glad the Sharks traded him and didn’t have to sign him to that huge contract, but he’ll be just fine in NJ.
