Report: Four teams including Leafs making push for Timo Meier today

According to a report from NHL insider Kevin Weekes of ESPN, there is increased interest in San Jose Sharks forward today on the trade market. Weekes identifies the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes as the interested parties.

More from Weekes:

Meier has long been linked to the Devils and the Hurricanes, but what intrigues me most is the fact that Weekes has linked him to the Leafs. We know that the Leafs are in pursuit of a forward and that Meier certainly fits the type of player that the Leafs are seeking. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas earlier this week essentially said that he's not interested in trading a top pick or prospect for a rental player, but Meier isn't your typical deadline rental. Yes, Meier's $6 million annual contract expires this upcoming offseason, but it's important to note that he'll be a restricted free agent this summer meaning that his parent team will retain his rights even if they can't get him under contract. So, all of this is to say that if Dubas does elect to send a top pick or prospect for Meier, he won't just lose him for nothing in the offseason. The Leafs have first crack at re-signing Meier to a new contract and could trade his rights if they can't come to terms during negotiations. NOW... having said all that... those negotiations could be tough because Meier has a $10 million qualifying offer meaning that he'll need a $10 million annual offer to retain his rights. That may be too rich for any acquiring team, saying nothing about the Leafs and their cap crunch.

Honestly, I think the best fit is the Devils. There's been so much talk linking Meier to the Devils, so I have to believe that there's something real there. The Hurricanes also make a ton of sense, especially since they have nearly $10 million in cap space. They can make a deal today and they can make it neat and tidy. That's a real advantage when your competitors are needing to offload salary to make a deal.