Report: Maple Leafs, Golden Knights join pursuit of Sharks' Meier

The market for San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier seems to be growing.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights have joined the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes among teams showing significant interest in Meier, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reports.

Meier carries a $6-million cap hit and is a pending restricted free agent. His qualifying offer will be $10 million, and he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2024.

The Sharks have yet to give Meier's agent permission to speak to teams involved in trade talks about a potential contract extension, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. The Devils, LeBrun adds, would want an extension in place as part of a trade. That's not a deal breaker for other clubs, such as the Hurricanes.

Meier has recorded 30 goals, 21 assists, 242 shots, and 109 hits in 54 games this season. It's the third time in the 26-year-old's career that he's reached the 30-goal mark.

The Maple Leafs, which are likely penciled in for a Round 1 rematch with the Tampa Bay Lightning, are looking to advance past the opening round of the postseason for the first time since 2004. Adding Meier to an already stacked top-six forward group would make Toronto that much more dangerous up front.

The Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights are no strangers to making splashy additions. With captain Mark Stone out indefinitely, Vegas may be looking to replace his spot in the lineup. If Stone, who carries a $9.5-million cap hit, remains out until the postseason, the Golden Knights would approach the trade deadline with increased cap flexibility.

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