NHL Rumors: What Will Devils Do With Nico Hischier?
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported that Hischier's agent, Allain Roy, stopped into New Jersey for a first meeting with new GM Sunny Mehta approximately two weeks ago, en route to Switzerland to meet with his client before the IIHF World Championships.
LeBrun's take on those initial conversations was encouraging but he was careful about how he worded it.
"My understanding is that so far, those preliminary discussions have been amicable and positive," LeBrun wrote. "But if an extension isn't signed this summer, it would be hard to fathom Mehta wanting to begin next season with Hischier on an expiring contract."
He described the situation as being at an "early and delicate stage," and noted that all things being equal, an extension is the most likely outcome.
The two factors driving the conversation are the contract number and what the organization's near future plan is.
Mehta is trying to find an extension figure that works for both sides while keeping the Devils as competitive as possible under the cap.
Hischier, for his part, needs to hear the right things from the new GM about the future of the rebuild before committing to a long-term future in New Jersey.
What the Market Would Look Like
If the extension does not get done before the 2026-27 season begins, the Devils would find themselves in the same uncomfortable position other organizations have faced with elite centers in expiring contract years.
The trade value would be enormous.
LeBrun noted it might be easier to list which teams are not paying attention than to name the ones that are.
The Los Angeles Kings just lost Anze Kopitar to retirement and are searching for a franchise center to build around.
On Nico Hischier: Several teams are monitoring his situation this summer. There’s ongoing speculation about whether the Devils will re-sign him or explore a trade.
— Hockey 24|7 (@iamhockey1) May 27, 2026
The Minnesota Wild have openly discussed their need for a center upgrade and have the cap space to absorb a significant contract.
The Montreal Canadiens are the most compelling fit LeBrun named specifically, observing that Hischier is essentially a left-handed Nick Suzuki and that the two down the middle of the Canadiens' lineup would be one of the more formidable center pairs in the Eastern Conference.
The Rangers, who are attempting their own retool and lack a true first-line center, have also been floated publicly.
"It would be a long, long list of suitors for a talented 200-foot center in his prime," LeBrun wrote. "This type of player rarely becomes available."
What Hischier Is Worth
The contract projection that has circulated most frequently in the New Jersey market lands in the $10 to $11 million per year range, per AFP Analytics.
Hischier finished the 2025-26 season, and if this was his last season before UFA, he would have had the highest points-per-game rate of anyone scheduled to hit the open market, at 1.09, ahead of Darren Raddysh at 0.96.
He turns 28 in January 2027, meaning a maximum seven-year extension signed this summer would run through his age-34 season and cover the entirety of what should be his peak.
NEW for @TheAthletic, Nico Hischier’s future, NHL coaching carousel, Bo Byram, Claude Giroux and more in Rumblings ! ⤵️https://t.co/XpnXRoxdHU
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 26, 2026
The tricky part is that Mehta inherited a cap structure with $34.9 million allocated to six defensemen and a roster that needs forward upgrades as urgently as it needs a Hischier extension.
Finding a number that works within those constraints while also convincing Hischier that New Jersey is on a realistic path to contention is the central negotiating challenge of Mehta's first summer on the job.
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