Timo Meier is crushing it at 5v5 for the New Jersey Devils

Meier has not gotten the credit deserved for his exceptionally strong 5v5 play.

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Timo Meier’s production has been a constant talking point since the day he was acquired by Tom Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils.

Put simply, Meier has produced and his overall outputs are usually good – but not $8.8 million good. Many are quick to point that out when praise is sent his way.

Those nitpicks are right in a sense. Meier is on pace to finish in the ~60-point range this season. That is not what you’d expect from a player making as much money as Meier.

However, it’s impossible for him to reach those heights without top power play time – and that time is not going to be available to him.

Think about how the Devils’ lethal power play operates. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt are two puck-dominant players on the flanks and they’re among the most productive in the league. They’re not going anywhere.

Nico Hischier is obviously a mainstay, and Stefan Noesen is one of the best net-front power play specialists in the league; and also a better fit because of the options he unlocks with his handedness.

Then there’s Dougie Hamilton (or Luke Hughes) at the point quarterbacking the whole thing.

Realistically, Meier doesn’t have an avenue to step into a PP1 role. All he can do is dominate his 5v5 minutes – and that’s exactly what he’s done.

Meier has put up 24 points at 5v5 to date. That ties him with big-ticket players like Sam Reinhart, Tim Stutzle, and Matt Boldy and outright bests Matthew Tkachuk, Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin, Sebastian Aho and the captain, Nico Hischier. Pretty good!

Meier also possesses outrageously good 5v5 metrics. The Devils have out-scored opponents 35-17 with Meier on the ice, good for a whopping 67% goal share.

Anders Lee(!!) and linemates Sean Monahan/Kirill Marchenko are the only forwards in the NHL who’ve logged 500+ minutes and posted a higher goal share at 5v5.

For perspective of how good those 5v5 results are: