It has been a year since the San Jose Sharks traded forward Timo Meier to the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 26, 2023, in a blockbuster deal that changed both organization’s futures. The Sharks added valuable pieces for their rebuild, including Fabian Zetterlund, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Okhotiuk, and a first-round pick in 2023 that became Quentin Musty. San Jose also received a conditional second-round pick and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 Draft. Meanwhile, the Devils acquired a player who they hoped would push them closer to Stanley Cup contention, but that hasn’t been the case so far. Here’s a look at the trade one year later.
Sharks Acquisitions Making an Impact
The emergence of Zetterlund has been a silver lining to an otherwise difficult season in 2023-24. While he played well with the Devils in 2021-22 and 2022-23, he struggled when he arrived in San Jose, recording three assists in 22 games. Compared to his 20 points in 45 games with the Devils before the trade, it was a bit of a disappointment. In 2023-24, he found his footing and also discovered a level of goal-scoring talent he’d never shown in the NHL. In 82 games, he had a career-high 24 goals, which may not sound like much, but they did lead the team.
The defensemen acquired in the trade have also been making an impact. Although Mukhamadullin spent most of the 2023-24 season with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League, he impressed the Sharks during his short stint with the team when he was called up in January.
Okhotiuk, on the other hand, carved out a role for himself as a physical presence on the Sharks’ blue line and can also make great defensive plays. He bounced in and out of the lineup while former head coach David Quinn experimented with a mostly healthy defensive core. Okhotiuk contributed a bit offensively, but the most impactful part of his game was in the defensive zone. The Sharks traded him to the Calgary Flames at the 2024 Trade Deadline and he returned to his native Russia at season’s end.
Musty is still playing with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League, and he’s taken a step forward as well. The 26th overall pick in the 2023 Draft is developing nicely for the Sharks, as he had 102 points in 53 games in 2023-24. Musty should be in the NHL sooner rather than later.
Meier’s Struggles and Hatakka’s Emergence
Things didn’t get off to a good start for the Devils after they acquired Meier. General manager Tom Fitzgerald signed the Swiss forward to an eight-year extension, which kicked in last season, but Meier had 14 points in his first 21 games.
Meier’s underlying numbers are fine, and he’s had some injury troubles in New Jersey, which has likely contributed to his lower production levels.
While Meier was the Devils’ focal point in this trade, they also acquired Santeri Hatakka in the deal. The Finnish defenseman was a sixth-round pick by the Sharks in 2019. He had played a few games in the NHL but spent most of his time in the organization with the Barracuda after he moved to North America. His offensive production jumped with the AHL’s Utica Comets last season, and he made a few appearances for New Jersey. It remains to be seen if he’ll become an NHL regular, but he could end up being a solid asset for the Devils.
Related: Sharks Veterans Can Play Pivotal Role Ahead of Trade Deadline
It’s too early to pick a winner in this trade between the Sharks and Devils. Both teams acquired valuable assets that will be key to their future and help them reach their short-term and long-term goals. Most likely, this trade will be remembered as one that benefited both organizations, even if Meier hasn’t performed as expected for his new team so far.
