Nico Hischier, Devils Nearing Five-Year Extension

Outside of an injury-riddled 2020-21 campaign, Hischier has been remarkably consistent and healthy for the Devils. Throughout the last five years, Hischier has typically averaged between 60 and 70 points a year, with an 80-point 2022-23 season serving as an outlier. In total, Hischier has scored 142 goals and 342 points in 379 games for New Jersey with a +30 rating since the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

Additionally, Hischier isn’t just known for his work on the offensive side of the puck. Garnering Selke Trophy votes for the past several years, Hischier is one of the more responsible centers in the game. He’s managed a 52.7% faceoff rate throughout his career, and that’s even more impressive considering that Hischier has begun most of his shifts in the defensive zone for the last several years.

Of the nine Devils forwards that played in 700 or more minutes this past season, Hischier finished second on the team behind Jesper Bratt in On-Ice xGoals For per 60 minutes. Now on the cusp of being signed for another six seasons (with one year remaining on his current deal), New Jersey will have their captain in the mix until he’s 33 years old.

Using a $12MM price tag for the sake of clarity, the Devils and new General Manager Sunny Mehta will still have a lot of flexibility even with Hischier signed to a hefty price tag. As things currently stand, after factoring in a $113.5MM salary cap and $12MM salary for Hischier, New Jersey will only have approximately $76.595MM committed to the 2027-28 season. That leaves them with approximately $36.9MM in financial flexibility for that season.

The Devils still need to find a long-term answer at the goaltending position, but Mehta has already done a nice job giving himself the freedom to recreate the team in his image.