Sharks' Timo Meier: Will miss exhibition contest with illness

Meier is under the weather and will miss the Sharks' preseason opener against the Canucks on Tuesday, Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area reports.

Analysis:

Meier was selected ninth overall by San Jose in the 2015 NHL Draft and has spent the past three years playing in the QMJHL. In each of those seasons, the teenager averaged over a point per game, including the 2014-15 campaign in which he notched an astounding 90 points in 61 outings. Even before coming down with an illness, the organization was likely leaning towards returning the winger to juniors in order to allow his game more time to mature, but the longer he is sidelined, the more sense that move makes.