SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 7: San Jose Sharks’ Timo Meier (28) waits for a face-off in opposition to the Calgary Flames within the third interval on the SAP Middle in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
The Sharks and Tomas Hertl are quickly going to must determine whether or not they share a long-term future collectively.
Both the Sharks and Hertl can come collectively on a contract extension earlier than the March 21 NHL Commerce Deadline – or at the very least have made good progress towards a brand new deal – or it appears San Jose’s entrance workplace must attempt to commerce the affable centerman to recoup property earlier than he doubtlessly indicators elsewhere this summer time as an unrestricted free agent.
Letting Hertl stroll away for nothing wouldn’t seem like an possibility for the Sharks, despite the fact that Hertl has a modified no-trade clause wherein he could be dealt to solely considered one of three groups.
But when a Hertl extension doesn’t occur, what turns into of Timo Meier, who's making his first look within the NHL All-Star Sport on Saturday?
Would it not sign that the Sharks would even be prepared to maneuver Meier and start a deeper rebuild, or may they pivot and attempt to make the Swiss-born winger the following centerpiece of the franchise?
Extra the latter, it could appear — if Meier desires to remain long run.
Regardless of Hertl’s unsure future in San Jose, it doesn’t seem a full-blown rebuild is one thing the Sharks would entertain, with staff president Jonathan Becher saying as a lot final 12 months.
The bounty returned on a Hertl deal may additionally assist the Sharks be in a greater place to contend for a playoff spot subsequent season. Discovering one other top-six centerman to interchange Hertl will probably be troublesome, however the Sharks can have some house underneath the NHL’s wage cap this offseason to do some procuring, notably if the impartial arbitrator dealing with the Evander Kane grievance guidelines of their favor.
The Sharks would then even have extra salary-cap house to present Meier a long-term extension and make him a cornerstone of the staff for a number of extra years to come back.
Meier has one 12 months left on the four-year, $24 million contract he signed with the Sharks in 2019 and will probably be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on the finish of the deal. He’ll make $10 million in wage subsequent season, which means that the Sharks must concern a qualifying provide of that quantity to retain his negotiation rights.
An extended contract may very well be labored out afterward. Within the meantime, Meier is wanting like a participant price a long-term funding. 
Meier, 25, has been the Sharks’ most efficient participant this season with 47 factors in 41 video games, practically equaling his complete of 49 factors in 70 video games two years in the past and doubling his factors per sport output from final season.
“A part of the rationale he’s had success is he’s dedicated to making an attempt to be a 200-foot participant, making an attempt to assist at each ends,” stated Sharks coach Bob Boughner, who has additionally complemented Meier’s management this season. “In the event you see that, and he retains enhancing, that’s what a centerpiece is, a man that may carry a staff offensively however will also be on the ice in each scenario defensively. A two-way participant.”
Meier can also be averaging a career-high 19 minutes of ice time per sport, simply essentially the most he’s had in his five-plus seasons within the NHL.
“Each coach desires each star to play on each side of the puck, and a number of guys are cussed,” stated NHL Community analyst Mike Rupp, a ahead within the league from 2003 to 2014.
“They don’t need to do this as a result of they’ve solely recognized the sport a technique. To make that adjustment, it’s two-fold. Once you present that you simply’re prepared to do what’s requested of you on the defensive aspect, that buys you extra minutes, and extra minutes provides you a chance to have extra affect on the offense.”
The Sharks have gamers of their early-to-mid 30s — defensemen Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Erik Karlsson, and heart Logan Couture — all underneath contract for the following a number of years. However Meier and defensemen Mario Ferraro are main the following era of Sharks that features forwards Jonathan Dahlen, Rudolfs Balcers, William Eklund and Jasper Weatherby, and defenseman Ryan Merkley.
“No matter he’s doing on the market that’s going to profit the staff, goes to profit him, too,” Rupp stated of Meier. “This can be a nice alternative for him, particularly with the roster matrix so far as the age goes. There’s nothing however alternative right here for Timo Meier.”
Ferraro stated earlier than the season started that he would “like to be a Shark ceaselessly.”
Requested earlier this week if he sees himself being a Shark for the lengthy haul, Meier, who may very well be a UFA after the 2023-2024 season, wasn’t prepared to go fairly that far.
“The main focus is true now, on the video games, on the season. All that stuff is much forward,” Meier stated. “We’ve received a superb group of fellows. I’m making an attempt to not look too far forward.”
Whereas Meier takes half within the all-star festivities, Hertl stated he and his younger household had been going to Hawaii – an opportunity for him to clear his head earlier than the unofficial second half of the season begins.
“I’m prepared to only loosen up,” Hertl stated earlier than the Sharks performed the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. “After I come again, I’ll be simply centered on enjoying and we’ll see what the talks will probably be after that. However proper now, I will probably be simply stress-free and having fun with household time.
“I do know it’s getting shut and possibly after the break there'll in all probability be extra speaking. … I’ll get pleasure from a bit of break day and after, we are going to see what occurs.”