Timo Meier Has Been A Massive Disappointment For The Devils
When the New Jersey Devils acquired forward Timo Meier in 2023, they hoped to land a power forward who could reshape their top six and provide 40 goals a season. At the time, Meier looked like that player, and New Jersey gave up assets to the San Jose Sharks, believing he would become a core member and ride shotgun alongside Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. In addition to trading away significant assets, the Devils committed financially to Meier long-term with an eight-year contract worth $70.4MM ($8.8MM annually). The results weren’t great to start. Meier had just 14 points in his first 21 games with the Devils and just four points (two goals and two assists) in 11 playoff games. Now, just three years into that contract, Meier has been less of a top-end power forward and more of a streaky depth scorer who struggles with turnovers.
New Jersey has been a major disappointment over the past two seasons. While Meier has been relatively consistent, he hasn’t lived up to the expectations when he was brought in and signed long-term. In the five years prior to the trade, Meier had topped 30 goals three times and had become a 65-75-point player. Since the trade, he’s been a 25-goal scorer and a 50-point player. These numbers, while respectable, aren’t what the Devils were hoping for when they made the moves.
The Devils obviously want to get back to the playoffs with their current roster, but many of their top-paid players have struggled to live up to their price tags. Meier is hardly alone in his struggles, but he just finished fourth in Devils scoring, despite being the highest-paid forward.
Now, you could point to some of the injuries and to the inconsistency hampering Meier’s production, but the cause is likely much deeper and involves both individual and team issues.
For Meier, he simply has not elevated his play since the trade to New Jersey and has not been as physically imposing as he was with the Sharks. Many predicted that Meier would become the Devils’ net-front presence and use his size to score many goals in front of the net, but Meier hasn’t become that player despite playing through his prime over the past few years.
Meier also hasn’t built chemistry with his teammates or settled into his role. Some of that can be blamed on his lack of momentum on his own, but there have also been lineup and coaching changes, along with other external factors that could be keeping Meier from getting comfortable with the Devils.
While Meier’s offensive numbers have been respectable, perhaps the most troubling aspect of his game is on the defensive side, where he lacks attention to detail in his own end and is often guilty of turning the puck over. These warts in his game would be forgivable if Meier were producing more offense, but unfortunately for New Jersey, that has not been the case.
Meier was brought in to help change the Devils’ trajectory, but, unfortunately for New Jersey, it appears the trajectory has gone the other way, which, given the talent on the roster, seems to be a shock to most people. It’s hard to label Meier a disaster, but when compared to the costs to acquire and retain him, there is little doubt that the Devils would love to have both the trade and the contract back as a do-over, and it’s likely a series of moves they wouldn’t repeat.
At this point, it’s unlikely that Meier takes the next steps that the Devils were hoping he would take when they acquired him. And with the failed trade, among other failed moves, New Jersey has brought in a new management group, and it should be interesting to see how they assess the fit with Meier and whether or not they see him as a long-term fixture. There could be an interesting dynamic with a new GM and management team: a possible trade, or they could see him in a different role with the Devils. Back with San Jose, Meier was often a focal point of the Sharks’ offense; however, in New Jersey, that is less often the case, as the Devils have better forward depth and more offensive players than the Sharks did 3-4 years ago.
There is also the possibility that Meier re-captures his offensive game this year after a tumultuous season off the ice last year. Meier took a personal leave of absence mid-season after posting 10 goals and 12 assists in his first 26 games (a 70-point pace). After returning from his leave, Meier tallied eight goals and three assists in 34 games, roughly a 26-point pace over a full season. Curiously, Meier’s shooting percentage dropped from 11.9% in those first 26 games to 5.9% in the 34 games following his return. There are many reasons that could happen (bad luck, for one), but it’s hard to imagine him shooting that poorly over another stretch of play.
With a new management group in place and five years left on his contract, it will take some time before Meier’s fate is ultimately decided. For now, given his contract status, it’s hard to imagine the Devils moving him to another team. But this summer could be one of urgency in New Jersey, with Hischier’s contract entering its final season and a lot of disappointment surrounding the team. What that means for Meier remains to be seen, but if he does become a trade chip, he would be a buy-low candidate who should generate some interest among teams looking for help in their top six.
Jay Woodcroft Expected To Interview For Other Opportunities
Last offseason, Anaheim Ducks assistant coach Jay Woodcroft interviewed for multiple head coaching positions, and is expected to do the same this summer. According to Eric Stephens of The Athletic, Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek won’t hold him back, nor block any team from interviewing Woodcroft once those requests come his way.
In Stephens’ update, he shared a quote from Verbeek, saying, “I would never hold a coach back from getting a head coaching job. There’s only 32 of them. That’s the pinnacle of his profession so I would never hold him back from that.”
A year ago, Woodcroft had confirmed interviews with the Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Pittsburgh Penguins, and likely had others. Despite progressing significantly with the Bruins, Woodcroft became an assistant coach in Orange County for the 2025-26 season.
This all came after taking a one-year break from coaching in the 2024-25 season. His last time as a head coach came with the Edmonton Oilers, before he was fired early into the 2023-24 season. By the time he was let go, Woodcroft had managed a 79-41-13 record (.594 W%) with the Oilers, advancing as far as the Western Conference Final in 2022.
Luckily for Woodcroft, there will be no shortage of opportunities this summer. The Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking for new head coaches over the next few weeks. Additionally, the Vegas Golden Knights could be another suitor if they don’t sign John Tortorella to an extension after the season. Although the Oilers are again looking for a new head coach, it’s unlikely that the team would circle back to Woodcroft.
Wild Notes: Foligno, Brodin, Hynes
In this morning’s end-of-season media availability, veteran forward Nick Foligno touched on his future with the Minnesota Wild and his playing future in general. According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, Foligno stated that he would love to return to the Wild next season, but will first decide whether he wants to continue playing.
Minnesota acquired the 38-year-old Foligno at the deadline in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. He performed admirably, scoring one goal and adding four points in 17 regular-season contests, with two additional goals and three points in 11 postseason games. His two playoff goals came in the series-clinching loss against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 5 of Round Two.
There’s no surprise that retirement is a legitimate question for Foligno. As soon as the Wild acquired him, it had all the makings of a swan song, playing out the final days of his career with his brother, Marcus Foligno. Fortunately for Minnesota, should Foligno return, it’ll assuredly be on a much cheaper deal than his current $4.5MM salary.
Additional notes from the Wild:
- According to Joe Smith of The Athletic, defenseman Jonas Brodin revealed his playoff ailment to the media. Brodin shared that he broke a toe bone after blocking a shot in Round One, a fracture that required surgery. It’s more of the same for Brodin, who has not registered 70 or more games in a single season since the 2021-22 campaign.
- Unsurprisingly, Russo indicated that head coach John Hynes isn’t expected to depart this offseason. The question is fairly typical after a team is bounced from the playoffs, especially a team as talented as the Wild. Hynes has been the main bench boss in Minnesota since the 2023-24 campaign, guiding them to a 125-78-24 record (.604 W%) in that time.
Golden Knights Forfeit Draft Pick, John Tortorella Fined
The National Hockey League didn’t let the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate their Western Conference Final berth for too long. According to an announcement from the league office, the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit their 2026 second-round pick, and head coach John Tortorella will be fined $100K for “flagrant violations” of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations.
Although the punishment was unknown, this was an expected outcome for many. In the announcement, the league shared, “The imposition of these penalties comes after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Regulations and other associated policies.” After last night’s series-clinching win, Vegas closed the locker room doors to the media, and Tortorella refused to meet with them.
According to the league, the Golden Knights will have the ability to appeal the punishment, though they likely won’t have much leverage, given that they’ve been warned multiple times. Still, instead of arguing for a complete erasure of the punishment, Vegas may argue themselves into a slap on the wrist with an understanding that a harsher punishment will be had if something like this happens again.
Regardless, the loss of a second-round pick puts Vegas in a deep hole. Although they normally trade away their draft capital or trade away the prospects, they now lose one for nothing. After today’s news, the Golden Knights don’t have another second-round pick at their disposal until the 2030 NHL Draft.
The Golden Knights offered a press release of their own, saying, “The Golden Knights are aware of today’s announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim. The organization will have no further comment.“
Xavier Villeneuve Commits To Boston University
After losing Yegor Shilov to Penn State University yesterday, the Boston University Terriers are still getting their hands on a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. According to an announcement on his Instagram, defenseman Xavier Villeneuve has committed to Boston University.
Villeneuve, 18, has spent the last three years with the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He has been a solid scoring talent throughout that stretch, scoring 26 goals and 143 points in 152 games with a +11 rating. During the 2024-25 campaign, he suited up for Team Canada at the IIHF U18 World Junior Championships, scoring four goals and eight points in seven tournament contests.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Villeneuve is the 18th-ranked North American skater for the upcoming draft. Given that he’s projected between the 15th and 20th selection on many boards, Villeneuve should expect to land with a team that’s currently playing, or that qualified for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Furthermore, he follows a recurring theme of smaller, past-first defenseman for the Terriers. Obviously, the most recent example would be Lane Hutson and his brother, Cole Hutson. Neither brother is 6’0″ or taller, but both have become solid NHL players. Lane is only three years removed from his time at Boston University, and he’s scored 18 goals and accumulated 146 points in 166 games throughout his young career, winning the Calder Trophy in 2025.
Snapshots: Mastrosimone, Porter, Predators Draft Pick
The Charlotte Checkers, AHL affiliates of the Florida Panthers, have signed forward Robert Mastrosimone to a one-year AHL contract extension. As is custom for AHL contracts, the financial terms of the deal were not made public. A 2019 second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, Mastrosimone played four seasons of college hockey (three as a Boston University Terrier, one as an Arizona State Sun Devil) before turning pro in 2023-24. A point-per-game scorer at ASU, Mastrosimone struggled through the first two years of his pro career with the Toronto Marlies, putting up just 29 points in 95 games.
The Marlies didn’t re-sign Mastrosimone for a third year, and instead he signed a one-year deal in Charlotte. In October, it looked as though Mastrosimone had lost his spot in the AHL, as he was sent down to the ECHL after the Checkers signed veteran Tyler Motte to a PTO. By early December, Mastrosimone had worked his way back into the AHL by scoring nine goals and 15 points in 13 ECHL games. That stint in the third tier seemed to make a major difference for Mastrosimone, as he took his AHL performance to a new level after being recalled. He finished the 2025-26 season with 13 goals and 32 points in 49 games for the Checkers, and could be on the way to establishing himself as a full-time AHL middle-six scorer. With today’s extension news, he’ll get to continue on that path with the Checkers.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
- USA Hockey announced today that former NHLer Kevin Porter has been hired as a head coach for the U.S. National Team Development Program. Per Sean Shapiro of Elite Prospects, Porter will coach the NTDP’s U18 team. Porter spent last season as an assistant coach for the U18’s, and also coached the United States to a gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, their first win at the tournament since 2003. Before coaching at the NTDP, Porter was an assistant coach with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins from 2020-21 through 2023-24. As a player, Porter had a 249-game NHL career and also served as a captain in the AHL with the Rochester Americans.
- As a result of the Vegas Golden Knights’ victory over the Anaheim Ducks last night, a win that propelled them to the Western Conference Finals, the 2027 third-round pick Vegas surrendered to the Nashville Predators will officially upgrade to a 2027 second-round pick. The Golden Knights sent what was originally a conditional third-round pick to Nashville as part of last summer’s Nicolas Hague/Jeremy Lauzon trade. The development gives the Predators another second-round pick to work with in next year’s draft, and means that, barring any further trades, the club will go three consecutive years with two second-round picks in the draft. The club acquired a 2026 second-rounder from the Minnesota Wild in last year’s Gustav Nyquist trade, and a 2028 second-rounder from the Wild in this past season’s Michael McCarron deal.
Quinn Hughes “Open To” Extension In Minnesota
In his end of season media availability today, superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes said he is “definitely open to re-signing” with the Minnesota Wild. (quote via Joe Smith of The Athletic) He also indicated that he would prefer to get a contract signed over the summer, but it isn’t a requirement. Hughes expressed confidence in GM Bill Guerin’s ability to construct a championship-caliber team, and said he likes playing in Minnesota, his teammates, and his interactions with management.
Hughes’ status is the single most important storyline surrounding the Wild, and it will be until he either signs an extension or departs the team in any manner.
Hughes is one of the game’s very best defensemen, and the Wild surrendered a major package of assets including young players, prospects, and draft picks, in order to acquire him, even with less than two years of team control remaining at the time.
With franchise forward Kirill Kaprizov committed on an expensive new contract, the Wild are locked into trying to compete for a Stanley Cup in the immediate future. Re-signing Hughes is essential to maximizing those efforts.
Smith and colleague Michael Russo wrote this morning that “it wouldn’t be a surprise for Hughes to sign a three-year extension this summer,” as such a term would align Hughes’ deal with the expiry of his brother Jack Hughes‘ contract with the New Jersey Devils. Doing so would allow for a timeline where the two older Hughes brothers could decide where to play together – forming a kind of superstar package deal unlike any other in NHL history.
As for what Hughes might be able to earn on his next contract, there really isn’t an upper ceiling on the amount of money he could command. Kaprizov’s AAV of $17MM on his next deal is unlikely to be surpassed, of course, but Hughes has just as strong of a case to earn a market-shattering AAV on his next deal as Kaprizov had. The 2024 Norris Trophy winner earned $7.85MM on his last contract, one he signed in October 2021. With the way the cap is set to rise, Hughes could conceivably push to double his AAV figure on his next deal.
The Wild’s interest in the Hughes family does not appear to stop at the eldest brother. Russo and Smith reported this morning, citing league sources, that Guerin “made a pitch to former Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald” to acquire Luke Hughes this past season.
The youngest Hughes brother, who scored 35 points in 68 games in 2025-26, is under contract at a $9MM AAV through 2031-32. It seems far-fetched that the Wild will be able to unite all three, especially since Jack and Luke already play together. But at the very least they appear positioned to retain Quinn beyond next season, and given the amount Guerin had to surrender to acquire him, that’s a significant win on its own.
Many things can change between now and whenever Hughes might put his signature on an extension with the Wild. That he expressed interest in re-signing today is no guarantee that he actually does so. But after such a disappointing end to their season at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, Hughes’ comments today should come as a much-needed positive development for fans in Minnesota and the Wild organization overall.
Photos courtesy of Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
East Notes: Varlamov, Duclair, Power
The New York Islanders plan to enter next season with veteran Semyon Varlamov as their backup netminder, Stefen Rosner of The Elmonters wrote today. Varlamov, 38, missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from a knee injury, save for a two-game rehab stint in the AHL in the middle of April. With Varlamov sidelined by his injury, the Islanders turned to fellow veteran David Rittich as their backup goalie, signing him to a one-year contract.
Rosner reports that the Islanders held “preliminary contract negotiations” with Rittich’s camp, which is led by Craig Oster of Newport Sports Management, on a potential extension, but Rosner noted that those talks came before Varlamov’s rehab stint. Since it appears now that the 38-year-old will be healthy for training camp in the fall, and is slated to make $2.75MM against the cap, the Islanders don’t have room for Rittich, who has more than earned the right to stay in the NHL after playing in 64 games in the last two seasons. He went 14-10-3 with an .894 save percentage in 30 games for the Islanders this past season. In his most recent healthy campaign as Islanders backup, 2023-24, Varlamov went 14-8-4 with a .918 save percentage in 28 games played.
Other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- It “seems very likely” that veteran forward Anthony Duclair will be moved this summer, Rosner also wrote today. The 30-year-old scorer’s tenure on Long Island has been a poor fit for both player and team. Duclair signed a four-year, $3.5MM AAV contract with the Islanders in the summer of 2024, but only managed 11 points in 44 games played in 2024-25. By the end of that season, former head coach Patrick Roy was harshly critical of Duclair’s form. This past season was an improvement for the former All-Star, but not a substantial one. He scored 12 goals and 27 points in 62 games, a 16-goal, 36-point 82-game scoring pace. Duclair’s pedigree as a scorer should help him draw some league-wide interest if he is indeed shopped, although the term left on his deal (two years), combined with his uneven play will make finding a trade more of a challenge. Making things easier, though, is the fact that his contract will shift from a full no-trade clause to a 16-team no-trade list on July 1.
- Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power went into the boards awkwardly during the team’s game five loss last night, and although he returned to the ice later in the game, his health and status moving forward is something to monitor. Head coach Lindy Ruff was asked about Power in his media availability today, but was not able to provide much of an update. He said, per Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News, that Power is feeling “better than he thought he would” and received treatment today. At this time, it seems more likely than not that he’ll be able to play tomorrow night as the Sabres look to keep their season alive in Montreal, though his availability has not yet been confirmed.
Senators Reportedly Targeting Defense In Offseason
One of the primary offseason objectives of the Ottawa Senators’ hockey operations department will be to secure the services of “a big defenceman who can play big minutes,” Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen reported last week.
Garrioch had previously reported that the Senators considered making a play for St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko at the trade deadline, and he could be a possibility if he would consider waiving his no-move clause for Ottawa.
The Blues agreed to a deal with the Buffalo Sabres for Parayko near the deadline, but Parayko declined to waive his no-move clause to head to Western New York. Garrioch also noted that the Senators “pushed hard” to acquire Philadelphia Flyers veteran Rasmus Ristolainen at the deadline but couldn’t finalize a deal. Like Parayko, Ristolainen could remain an option for the summer but the Flyers may also not have much interest in subtracting such an important piece from their roster after making a run to the second round of the playoffs this spring.
As the Senators’ reported targets before the deadline indicated, the team’s clear need for a defenseman is specifically for a right-shot blueliner. The team’s top two defensemen, Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot, both play on the left side. 
Chabot is under contract at an $8MM AAV for the next two seasons, while Sanderson is signed at $8.05MM AAV through 2029-30. They have been the anchors of Ottawa’s defense, and veteran Artem Zub, who is under contract through next year at $4.6MM is the team’s top right-shot blueliner.
Adding one more right-handed defenseman to the mix would give Ottawa an enviable set of top-four defensemen.
Of course, the hope to add a big, minutes-eating right-shot defenseman isn’t something unique to the Senators. Players who check those boxes are often among the most coveted assets in the NHL.
What is most interesting about the Senators’ aggressive pursuit of such a blueliner at the trade deadline is what it says about how they view their internal options for the role. Ottawa invested the No. 7 overall pick at the 2024 draft in a dynamic right-shot blueliner, Carter Yakemchuk. Now 20, he could be close to NHL-ready after a solid debut professional season. In addition, Ottawa has 25-year-old Jordan Spence, who enjoyed a strong 31-point debut season with the Senators. He is set to become a restricted free agent, but remains club property for the time being.
On paper, it might make sense for the Senators to simply stand pat, and trust in that duo of internal options alongside Zub to make up the right side of their defense. But after getting pushed around in a first-round series against the Hurricanes, Ottawa appears set to redouble their efforts to acquire a top-four defenseman of a specific mold, one that is traditionally viewed to be best-suited for the rigors of playoff hockey.
While the upcoming free agent class appears deepest at the position of right-shot defensemen, there are some caveats. Rasmus Andersson appears likely to re-sign in Vegas while Darren Raddysh and John Carlson aren’t quite built in the same mold as Parayko and Ristolainen. While both players would certainly represent an upgrade over Spence, they may not be enough of a stylistic departure for the Senators. Additionally, the league-wide interest each is expected to receive could remove them as an option for Ottawa, as the market has traditionally struggled to attract the league’s very best free agents.
The best fit for the Senators could be veteran Jacob Trouba, who has had a bounce-back stint with the Anaheim Ducks after a difficult end to his time as captain of the New York Rangers. It remains to be seen if Trouba will end up hitting the open market, or if he even would have interest signing with the Senators. But of all of the upcoming free agents, he is the one most stylistically comparable to the defenders Ottawa reportedly attempted to acquire at the deadline. After Trouba, the next-best fit might be Connor Murphy of the Edmonton Oilers, a 6’4″ rearguard who is able to weather substantial time on the penalty kill.
Photos courtesy of Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
Flyers Sign Aleksei Kolosov To One-Year Contract Extension
The Philadelphia Flyers have signed goaltender Aleksei Kolosov to a one-year contract extension, the team announced today. The deal carries an $850K AAV, though it is unclear at this time whether the extension is of a one-way or two-way structure.
Kolosov’s three-year entry level contract, a deal he signed in July 2023, was set to expire next month. He was slated to become an RFA with arbitration rights, assuming he had received a qualifying offer from the club.
Now, Philadelphia has avoided the (admittedly unlikely) prospect of Kolosov heading to arbitration, while Kolosov has secured his place in the Flyers organization for another season.
A 2021 third-round pick, Kolosov’s time with the Flyers organization has been somewhat uneven. His first of three years on his entry-level deal was spent on loan in the KHL, where he got to play for his hometown team, Dinamo Minsk.
Kolosov’s final two campaigns in the KHL were spent as the No. 1 goalie in Minsk. In 2023-24, he went 22-21-3 with a .907 save percentage in 47 games played. Seeing as Kolosov was already an experienced KHL starter, there was some hope that he would be able to hit the ground running in North America.
That did not happen. He began the 2024-25 season in a “standoff” with Flyers management. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski wrote at the time that Kolosov failed to report to Flyers rookie camp and had “asked the Flyers to loan him back to Dinamo Minsk of Russia’s KHL.” There were conflicting reports in prior months that Kolosov’s adjustment to North America had proven challenging. Inside AHL Hockey’s Tony Androckitis cited an AHL source saying that Kolosov “felt isolated” living in a hotel by himself and without the ability to speak much English.
Amid the reported standoff, GM Danny Briere said of Kolosov that it was “time for him to step up and respect the contract” he signed. A little over a week later, the Flyers and Kolosov’s camp found a solution. Kolosov stayed in North America for 2024-25, and did the same for 2025-26. In October of 2024 Kolosov’s agent, Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey, told Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer that “all previous concerns” related to his client had “been thoroughly addressed and are now resolved.”
Although that proved to be the end of the off-ice controversy surrounding Kolosov, his on-ice play did not immediately pay dividends for the Flyers. He got into 17 NHL games for the team but struggled to the tune of an .867 save percentage. In 12 AHL games, Kolosov went 5-6-1 with an .884 save percentage.
This past season, Kolosov settled in as Philadelphia’s organizational No. 3 goalie. While his NHL struggles persisted, (.830 save percentage across four games of action) Kolosov showed improvement in the AHL, posting an .895 save percentage in 38 games played. Though he has struggled in North America, his improvement this past season has kept him on the board as one of the Flyers’ better prospects. He recently ranked No. 15 in the team’s system by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler.
The goal for Kolosov on this one-year extension will, undoubtedly, be to push for more NHL time. The Flyers have Dan Vladar entrenched as their No. 1 goalie, but their backup spot could open if the team chooses not to qualify or extend Samuel Ersson. Ersson’s 2025-26 season was a struggle, though he did improve over the Olympic break. The Flyers will most likely sign a goalie to be the front-runner for the backup job, but with this extension, Kolosov should get the chance to at least push whoever the Flyers sign for that NHL spot behind Vladar.
Photos courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images