Frontrunners revealed for Timo Meier, and it's not Toronto

With the National Hockey League Trade Deadline coming up in less than a month, there will be several top teams looking to acquire talent for an extended postseason run, while other teams with no hope of the postseason will be looking to unload contracts from their roster. 

One team who is well outside of the postseason picture is the San Jose Sharks, and they happen to have a top forward on an expiring contract who has found himself in the midst of trade discussions. Timo Meier's four year, $24 million deal is expiring this summer, and he's been floated as a potential top rental opportunity for teams with title aspirations.

And according to Frank Seravalli, it's the New York Rangers who are the team to beat when it comes to the frontrunners for Meier's services. 

Take a look at what he had to say: 

"You have to start with the New York Rangers. I believe Timo Meier is their number-one target. It is not the $6 million cap hit that is the complicating factor — especially not for a team like the Rangers. They are one of the few contenders that actually has salary cap space.

The complicating factor is the qualifying offer. We know Timo Meier is going to be expensive, but at $10 million for the qualifying offer, is he a $10 million player? I don’t think so, and I think the rest of the league sees that as well. It changes the complexion.

The Rangers are #1, and then I would go across the Hudson River to the New Jersey Devils as the second option. There is no doubt the Devils are interested. The Swiss connection in Hischier and Meier — throw those two together, and you make magic. But I have the Rangers as the team to beat." 

Can you picture Meier in the Big Apple?