Could Nico Hischier Actually End Up with the Canadiens?

On the surface, it still looks like business as usual in New Jersey. Nico Hischier, the captain of the Devils, is extension-eligible; his cap hit is set to rise under his current deal, and most around the league still assume a long-term extension gets done. That’s also the read coming from reporting circles, with Pierre LeBrun noting that early talks have taken place. However, nothing has moved into the heavy negotiation stage yet.

LeBrun’s read is pretty straightforward: Hischier is a loyal player, a respected captain, and the most likely outcome is still a return to New Jersey on a new deal.

But is everything really okay with Hischier and the Devils?

The NHL has a way of testing assumptions. We’re in an era where “captain equals untouchable” doesn’t really hold anymore. We’ve already seen franchise cornerstones moved, trade requests surface from established leaders, and teams reshape their cores faster than they used to. Being the captain still matters—but it doesn’t guarantee permanence.

That’s where things get interesting. Because if negotiations don’t progress, and if the price of an extension climbs higher than New Jersey is comfortable with, the conversation shifts quickly from “extension talks” to “what’s the market?”

And that’s where the Montreal Canadiens enter the picture.

Montreal is expected to have a strong interest in Hischier.

According to LeBrun, if Hischier were ever made available, Montreal would be more than just interested. They would be aggressive. The comparison that keeps coming up is simple but powerful: Hischier is viewed as a left-handed version of Nick Suzuki. Two-way responsibility, leadership, defensive reliability, and enough offensive touch to drive a top line.

From a roster-building standpoint, that kind of fit doesn’t come around often. And from a Canadiens perspective, this is exactly the type of player you consider swinging big for if the opportunity ever presents itself. Not a depth piece. Not a reclamation project. A true structural centre-ice driver who changes how a team is built down the middle.

Nothing suggests that Hischier will be moved.

None of this says Hischier is actually on the block. The most likely outcome still lives in New Jersey, and the Devils know exactly what they have. But the league has a way of forcing conversations teams didn’t expect to have. And this is one of them.

Because if extension talks stall, even slightly, there are teams—Montreal most of all—that won’t hesitate to move from background interest to full-scale pursuit.