SAN JOSE — This could have easily been Timo Meier’s second time in a Western Conference Final.
Meier, just three months after he was drafted ninth overall, was impressive enough at training camp in 2015 that Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, Tim Burke, then the director of amateur scouting and now an assistant GM, and coach Pete DeBoer thought briefly about keeping him around for at least the start of the regular season.
No doubt, an 18-year-old Meier would have loved being in the NHL.
“A hundred percent. Every time you come to camp you want to make the team,” Meier said. “That was my goal for sure.”
But instead of playing a fourth line role and maybe averaging six to eight minutes a game that year with the Sharks, Meier was sent back to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. After he was traded by Halifax, he nearly led Rouyn-Noranda to the Memorial Cup title at the same time the Sharks were in the Stanley Cup Final.
“Did he have the size to play at this level? Perhaps,” Sharks assistant GM Joe Will said. “But it was kind of a no-lose for us. He was going back and could really develop.”
That patience is paying off now, as Meier, after his three-point performance in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the St. Louis Blues, is tied for fourth on the Sharks with 13 points in 15 playoff games. Game 2 is Monday at SAP Center.
Meier, 22, has improved every year as a professional, going from three NHL goals in 34 games in 2016-17, 22 goals in 81 games last season and 30 goals and 66 points in 78 games this year.
“I remember distinctly the conversation with Doug and Tim Burke, what’s going to be best for this kid long term with what we projected him to be, which is what you’re seeing now,” DeBoer said Sunday. “A guy that could (be physical), but could also score 30 goals.
“The best option was to go back to junior and not play against men in that role at that point in his career. It didn’t make sense.”
The physicality the 6-foot, 205-pound Meier plays with has never left, but he’s become a much more complete player in his three years as a professional.
Meier’s second period goal Saturday where he skated around Jay Bouwmeester and undressed goalie Jordan Binnington to give the Sharks a two-goal lead no doubt made all the highlight reels.
Now part of the Sharks’ shutdown line with Logan Couture and Gus Nyquist, Meier also helped slow down Nathan MacKinnon’s line in the second round and was skating regularly against the Blues’ top line of Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko and Brayden Schenn in Game 1.
“It’s my goal to get better, learning from all of the guys and the coaching staff,” Meier said. “It’s a great opportunity to play in the playoffs and I’m trying to get better with every game.”
The Sharks haven’t drafted high enough in the last decade-plus to get a player who could step into the NHL right away at 18 years old. Even players like Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Logan Couture were sent back to junior after they were drafted, and Tomas Hertl stayed in the Czech League until he was 19.
That’s basically been the Sharks’ approach since Wilson took over as GM in 2003.
“It’s nice when you’re able to do that. It really pays benefits later,” Will said. “The first thing is, you kind of keep them away from injuries at times. A lot of times, 18- and 19-year-olds, their bodies are still growing. The American League has a few less games and a few more practices. Junior has a few less games and a few more practices.
“That’s probably good before you get into 82 games against guys who are over 200 pounds.”
Meier also played 33 regular season games with the Barracuda in 2016-17. After the Sharks were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of that season’s playoffs, he went back to the AHL and helped the Barracuda advance to the third round of the Calder Cup playoffs — a team that also featured Tim Heed, Joakim Ryan, Barclay Goodrow and Kevin Labanc.
“It’s still playoff hockey professionally,” Ryan said. “Playoffs are a whole different animal in terms of the intensity and physicality. Being part of a run like that really helped us prepare all of us for the run we’re on right now.”
Looking back, Meier’s glad that he was sent back to junior hockey after that impressive camp. After all, his first appearance in a Western Conference Final has so far worked out OK.
“It was a great experience for me to play a long playoff run,” Meier said. “Went back and won the (Quebec League championship) and we got to play in the Memorial Cup. That’s a lot of experience that I try and bring in now.”
