Timo Meier, a forward with the New Jersey Devils, signed an eight-year, $70.4 million contract this offseason, making him the highest-paid forward on the team. Meier has participated in three games so far this season, but he has not lived up to his contract. He has four shots, four hits, and no points in three games. Meier is having a difficult season to start his new contract. It is unexpected as he had five points in three preseason games, and appeared to be meshing much better with the group. <h2>Reason for the benching</h2> Meier committed two sloppy tripping penalties, both in the second period, which slowed the Devils' comeback effort. Meier only had one more shift when the third period began. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1714100816443826318'> </a></blockquote></div> <h2>How Meier came to New Jersey</h2> Around the NHL trade deadline, Tino Meier, Scott Harrington, prospects Timur Ibragimov, Santeri Hatakka, and Zach Emond were acquired by the Devils from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 first-round pick, Andreas Johnsson, Fabian Zetterlund, and prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin and Okhotiuk. Meier scored 14 points in 21 games after being acquired, and by the end of the season, he really seemed to be finding his groove. However, he only managed four points in 11 games during the 2022–23 playoffs, even though the Devils advanced to the second round.