San Jose Sharks
Lemieux Doesn’t Close Door on Meier Returning to Sharks
Claude Lemieux hasn’t closed the door yet on Timo Meier’s return to the San Jose Sharks.
Lemieux, the pending RFA’s agent, told San Jose Hockey Now via text today: “Both options are still very real, getting traded or signing, but we have yet to discuss anything.”
Elliotte Friedman reported yesterday that the San Jose Sharks would allow teams interested in trading for Meier to talk extension with Lemieux.
“San Jose has indicated a willingness that if you make them a trade proposal they like, they will let you talk [extension] with Meier’s representative,” Friedman said.
REPORT: Sharks Will Allow Other Teams To Talk Extension With Meier
On the surface, that appears to be prelude to Meier leaving the San Jose Sharks.
Lemieux neither confirmed nor denied Friedman’s report.
Meier took the same stance this morning, but acknowledged, “I knew that teams, if there’s a trade, teams are gonna want to talk extension. It just makes sense.”
It also makes sense for San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier to maximize trade offers by allowing teams to talk extension parameters with Meier’s camp.
But does that mean that Meier is as good as gone?
According to Lemieux, no.
It doesn’t appear that player or representative have a problem with Grier trying to field the best possible offer. The ball is also in Meier’s court too, as he’ll get to let teams know how interested he is in re-signing with them before he’s dealt.