The New Jersey Devils missed the playoffs this spring, and that stings. But the bigger headache for new general manager Sunny Mehta might be sitting right in front of him: captain Nico Hischier is entering the final year of his contract, and the price tag to keep him just keeps climbing.
Hischier, 27, is wrapping up a seven-year, $50.57 million deal that pays him an average of $7.25 million per season. That number is about to look like a bargain. According to former NHL goaltender and current insider Kevin Weekes, the two sides are circling a new extension in the $11 million to $13 million range annually.
Weekes posted his read on the situation via X, noting that while official talks are ongoing, he speculates the Devils and Hischier will settle on a medium-term deal somewhere inside that bracket. Neither the team nor Hischier’s camp has confirmed those numbers, but the speculation alone sets a clear floor for what this negotiation will cost.
The Devils have yet to make this official — Hischier can’t sign an extension until July 1 at the earliest — but another NHL insider, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, reports that negotiations are already underway and trending positively. Pagnotta also pointed out that Hischier carries a 10-team no-trade list as part of his current deal, which gives the center some leverage should talks stall.
Why This Matters Beyond the Dollar Signs
Hishcier has quietly been one of the Devils’ most consistent pieces since entering the league. Over 609 games, he’s racked up 199 goals and 289 assists, anchoring the team’s top-six and wearing the ‘C’ with the kind of steady professionalism that doesn’t always make highlight reels but does win locker rooms. That production — plus his two-way reliability — makes him a cornerstone worth paying.
But the Devils also have to think about what happens next. Jack Hughes is already locked into a massive deal. Dougie Hamilton carries a significant cap hit. And if Hischier lands at $12 million or more, the Devils’ cap sheet starts to look very top-heavy very quickly. Mehta inherited a roster with plenty of talent but not a lot of financial wiggle room, and this contract will set the tone for every move he makes this summer.
The good news? Both sides seem interested in getting this done. The bad news — or at least the tension point — is that the Devils don’t have much time to waste if they want to turn a disappointing season into a sustained contender. A Hischier extension at $12 million might be the first step. Or it might be the one that forces Mehta to get creative elsewhere.
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