- Editor's Note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
How badly do the New Jersey Devils want to acquire Sharks forward Timo Meier?
Per NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman, very badly.
“I do think the Devils have kind of said to the Sharks, before you do anything on Meier, make sure we get a final shot,” the insider said on his "32 Thoughts" podcast Friday.
So does New Jersey see the 26-year-old pending restricted free agent as a franchise cornerstone, someone to sign long-term?
Fellow NHL analyst Pierre LeBrun seems to think so, and that will dictate the kind of offers that the San Jose Sharks receive for Meier, which I noted yesterday on “Sharks Pregame Live."
My educated guess, it will take two to tango. Meaning, if it’s only the Devils that are ready to commit long-term to Meier right now, then New Jersey just has to trump the best offer of a team that sees the Sharks star as a one- or two-year rental.
