San Jose Sharks
Meier Doesn’t Want to Talk Next Contract, Just Wants To Win

Timo Meier just wants to win.
In his exit interview on Saturday, he deflected multiple questions about his individual breakout campaign and pending contract negotiations – he’s an RFA with a $10 million dollar qualifying offer after 2022-23 – to focus on the San Jose Sharks as a team.
The next step for Timo Meier is playing in the World Championships for Switzerland. But before he heads over to Finland in mid-May, he talked to us about his contract, shooting for the 100-point club, what changed for him this year, and whether or not he wants Bob Boughner back as head coach.
Timo Meier, on his breakout campaign:
My goal was to make the playoffs and we didn’t achieve that. That’s frustrating as a team, frustrating individually. You set your goals as a team and you want to achieve them as a team. That’s the only thing I’m looking at.
Meier, on being a restricted free agent after next year:
I haven’t thought about it. My focus was on this season. The play will take the next step and all that stuff. Those are things you got to talk about with your people over summer.
I honestly haven’t made too much thoughts about it. It’s gonna be a topic, but as of now, my focus is going to be on the World Championships. That’s the next focus.
Meier, on shooting to join the 100-point club:
I want to be in the playoffs. If it takes down your points or whatever, but that’s not a thing I’m worried about. I’m not worried about getting points. I’m worried about winning, and that’s No. 1. Try to get better as an individual, but just to help the team.
Meier, on the biggest difference for himself this year as opposed to the previous two seasons:
Just not wasting energy on stuff that you can’t control. I tried to give everything in the years before too.
This year, I did a better job putting my energy towards my effort on the ice and helping the team win.
Meier, on if he wants to stay with San Jose Sharks long-term:
Like I said, I haven’t thought too much about that. I’m not a guy that looks too far ahead. Try to stay in the moment.
But yeah, going to be thinking about it this summer, looking at stuff and all that, reflecting on the season
Meier, on the biggest positive for the Sharks this year:
The way we stuck together as a group. I think that was the positive part. We had a good start and showed at times that we can play with the best teams. But we weren’t consistent enough to get in a playoff spot.
Meier, on if he wants Bob Boughner back as head coach:
Those are things that are up to our management. I try to worry about the stuff I can control. That’s all I can say.
Ooooooooh boy…… That’s certainly not, “I can’t imagine playing anywhere other that San Jose.”
It isn’t — but it’s also a little how Meier talks, he’s very guarded. He also refused to give Boughner an endorsement too, not even a little, “Sure, I’d like to have him back.”
So one read is he wants to leave San Jose and doesn’t want Bob back, but that seems extreme, which is why I didn’t make a big deal of it in this article.
It’s nice you didn’t reach for the “click-bait.”
It’s taken some time to read Timo. You said it best, he’s very guarded. Nothing wrong with that.
here’s an article idea for you:
“The first item on the agenda for the new GM is…”
For a team that wants to win next year, not sure if there’s a convincing argument to trade Timo? Gotta be right fit of NHL-ready, but younger and cheaper assets
well, i gave the option of both ways to go with him. i’ll take a stab from a new GM’s perspective and try to make an argument as he/she would. Timo will be 26 at the start of the new season, which will presumably be the initial wave of young stars (Eklund and Bordeleau) first full NHL season. he’s good for perhaps 5 more top tier seasons before the aging curve decline sets in. so, you’re essentially investing $9-10Mx8 for a little over the first half of that contract in value. these young stars’ talent doesn’t really kick in/start paying… Read more »
Don’t disagree, but again, it doesn’t help with the Sharks winning now. There is an “aligning of the stars” problem currently, but there’s an outside chance of that happening with Meier (an actual current star) than without. No chance without
i just don’t want another EK65 situation where they have to offer even more money/term then you’d think to get him to re-sign here. OR a nasty arb situation that’s just gonna lead to him moving on for nothing once he’s UFA.