Timo Meier Bio
Timo Meier (born 8 October 1996) is a Swiss professional ice hockey player who plays as a winger for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). After being selected ninth overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Meier became the third Swiss player in franchise history to be drafted by the team. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 220 pounds, he has built a reputation for his scoring touch and physical style of play.
Across his career, Meier has suited up for the San Jose Sharks and the New Jersey Devils, while also representing Switzerland in international competition. He won a silver medal with the Swiss national team at the 2018 IIHF World Championship and added another silver at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.
Early Life and Background
Timo Meier was born on 8 October 1996, in Herisau, Switzerland, to parents Charly and Claudia. As the youngest of two children, he grew up in a small town in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and developed a passion for ice hockey from an early age. He often described himself as hooked on the sport well before his teenage years, skating whenever he had the chance.
Meier’s upbringing in Herisau shaped his early hockey habits, since the town offered limited but tight-knit youth programs. When he turned 15, he accepted an apprenticeship position with the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, a National A League team in Switzerland, where he observed and learned from experienced professionals such as David Aebischer and Jason Spezza. That apprenticeship gave him a firsthand look at the discipline and work ethic required to reach the top level of the sport.
Path to Professional Hockey
Meier began his competitive path in his native Switzerland, playing at the Elite Jr. A level with the U17 SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers during the 2012–13 season. His play with the Lakers quickly caught international attention, and he was selected 12th overall by the Halifax Mooseheads in the 2013 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. He was expected to develop into one of the Mooseheads’ core members alongside Danish forward Nikolaj Ehlers.
In his first season with Halifax, Meier adjusted to the more physical, older competition of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, tallying 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points through 66 games. He returned to Switzerland the following summer to train with former professional Sandro Bertaggia, and his offensive game took off in his sophomore year. He set career highs of 44 goals and 46 assists for 90 points, won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL Best Professional Prospect, and was named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team. By the end of his draft year, Meier had climbed into the top tier of prospects, and the San Jose Sharks selected him ninth overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Timo Meier Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
After being drafted, Meier returned to Halifax for the 2015–16 season and was named team captain just weeks before opening night. He produced 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points in 23 games before the Mooseheads traded him to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in January 2016 in exchange for three draft picks.
With the Huskies, Meier slotted into a contending roster and helped them post the QMJHL’s best regular-season record. He erupted in the first-round playoff sweep of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, recording 13 points in 4 games, including a hat-trick in the deciding 7–3 win. He finished the QMJHL playoffs with 11 goals and 23 points in 18 games as Rouyn-Noranda captured the President Cup as QMJHL champions.
San Jose Sharks Era (2016–2023)
Meier signed a three-year entry-level contract with San Jose and was expected to push for the NHL roster out of training camp, but mononucleosis delayed his debut. After a short stint with the Sharks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, Meier was recalled in mid-December 2016 and made his NHL debut on 16 December against the Montreal Canadiens. He scored his first NHL goal on Carey Price in the first period of a 4–2 win.
Meier became a permanent fixture in San Jose’s lineup the following season, playing 81 games in 2017–18. He helped the Sharks qualify for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, where he contributed three points in a first-round sweep of the Anaheim Ducks. That summer, he joined the Swiss national team and won a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.
The 2018–19 campaign marked Meier’s true NHL breakout. He opened with a career-high nine-game point streak and led the Sharks in goals, plus-minus, and power-play goals by the end of October. He finished the regular season with 30 goals and 36 assists for 66 points in 78 games, then added five goals and 10 assists in 20 playoff games, including two goals and an assist in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues. On 1 July 2019, Meier signed a four-year contract extension to remain in San Jose.
He continued to produce through the 2019–20 season, recording his first NHL hat-trick on 28 December 2019 in a 6–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. He was voted the Sharks Player of the Year for the first time before the season was paused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2022, Meier became the first player in Sharks franchise history to score five goals in one game, doing so in a 6–2 win over the Los Angeles Kings, and he was later selected to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game.
New Jersey Devils Era (2023–Present)
On 26 February 2023, Meier was traded to the New Jersey Devils in a multi-player deal. Recovering from an injury at the time, he made his Devils debut on 5 March against the Arizona Coyotes. He finished the regular season with nine goals and 14 points in 21 games, helping New Jersey reach the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. In the postseason, he led the Devils in hits and added two goals and four points in 11 games.
Following the season, Meier signed an eight-year, $70.4 million contract extension with the Devils on 28 June 2023, locking him in through the 2030–31 season. He has continued to serve as a key top-six winger and physical presence for New Jersey.
Driving Style and Strengths
Meier is widely recognized for combining goal-scoring touch with a heavy, physical game, using his 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame to win battles along the boards and in front of the net. He thrives on the cycle and forecheck, complements skilled playmakers with his finishing ability, and contributes on both the power play and penalty kill. His blend of size, speed, and shooting touch has made him a reliable matchup option for coaches in all situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Meier’s most iconic NHL moment came on 17 January 2022, when he became the first player in Sharks history to score five goals in a single game, finishing with five goals in a 6–2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. He has also recorded a hat-trick against the Philadelphia Flyers, represented Switzerland at two IIHF World Championships with silver medals in 2018 and 2025, and signed one of the largest contracts in Devils history.
Timo Meier Career Wins
While Meier has not captured an NHL division or conference title, he has piled up milestones, individual honors, and team trophies since turning professional in 2013. His trophy case includes the Mike Bossy Trophy, QMJHL President Cup championship, a Swiss national team silver medal, and a Sharks Player of the Year award.
QMJHL Highlights
Meier’s most dominant run came in the QMJHL. He won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the league’s best professional prospect in 2014–15 after posting 44 goals and 90 points for Halifax. The following season, he was traded to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, where he helped lead them to the President Cup as QMJHL champions, finishing the playoffs with 11 goals and 23 points in 18 games, including a hat-trick in a first-round series-clinching win.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond junior hockey, Meier has earned a silver medal with Switzerland at both the 2018 and 2025 IIHF World Championships. He was also selected to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game and was named one of the NHL’s three stars of the week following his historic five-goal performance in January 2022.
Timo Meier Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Timo Meier was raised in Herisau, Switzerland, by his parents, Charly and Claudia, alongside one older sibling. His family supported his early hockey dreams, and the sport became a central part of their household. While his parents are not professional athletes, their encouragement helped him accept an apprenticeship with the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers at just 15 years old, which proved to be a turning point in his development.
Personal Life
Meier is known for keeping his personal life private. He is Swiss by nationality and grew up in Herisau, where his family still has ties. His career has taken him from Switzerland to Halifax, San Jose, and New Jersey, and he has built a reputation as a dedicated, team-first player both inside and outside the locker room.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 NHL season was an eventful one for Timo Meier and the New Jersey Devils. After signing his long-term extension, Meier continued to anchor the team’s top-six forward group, providing a blend of scoring, physicality, and power-play punch that few wingers in the league can match. He remained a fixture in head coach Lindy Ruff’s lineup, often skating alongside skilled playmakers and contributing on both special teams units.
Over the course of the season, Meier produced consistently, helping the Devils compete in a tightly contested Metropolitan Division. His mix of goals and heavy minutes kept New Jersey in the playoff mix deep into the schedule, and his leadership in the room continued to grow as one of the team’s veteran wingers. His trademark five-goal-game mentality and physical forecheck were once again on display throughout the year.
Meier also returned to the international stage with Switzerland at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded three goals and seven assists in ten games and helped the Swiss capture another silver medal. Heading into the next campaign, he remains a cornerstone of the Devils’ core and one of the most recognizable Swiss players in the NHL.