The New Jersey Devils continue to have an active offseason. After trading Simon Nemec and Jacob Markstrom, General Manager Sunny Mehta announced a new five-year contract extension for $58.5 million with an annual average value of $11.7 million.
Made In Jersey. Staying In Jersey.
We’ve agreed to terms with Nico Hischier on a five-year contract extension, beginning in the 2027-28 season.
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— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) July 1, 2026
The goal has always been, as TheDevilsNation.com has been reporting, to sign Hischier to a long-term extension. The player wanted a shorter-term deal to see what the team would do and prove they could win. However, projections always were that he would sign a four-to five-year deal. They end up with a five-year deal.
Hischier has been the Devils’ best two-way centerman since being drafted first overall in 2017. Again, Jack Hughes gets the headlines for his skill, but the heart of the Devils is Nico Hischier. He is always mentioned as a Selke Trophy nominee, but never makes the final.
In 609 NHL games, he has recorded 488 points (199 goals and 289 assists), averaging a faceoff win percentage of about 56 percent. Again, one of Hischier’s goals is to win a Stanley Cup in New Jersey. He and the team have been to the playoffs three times, winning one playoff series in 2023 before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in Round 2 that year.
In 22 post-season games, Hischier has recorded 12 points (six goals and six assists). We know what he has done on the World stage playing for Switzerland at the World Championships and the Olympics. In the big moments, Hischier can get it done.
The Devils could ill afford to lose a player like this and even let these negotiations drag on, given the information being floated. So there was a sense of urgency to get a deal done. Mehta was always confident that a deal would get done as there was always continual progress.
There was some talk about him being traded if he was not signed. Again, that was wishful thinking and more of a hope in light of the information that was out there. Some of which may or may not have been true.
There was some frustration from Hischier over these past nine seasons, given how the Devils took more steps backward than forward. Missing the playoffs six times over those nine seasons does that to a player.
Hischier wanted to see what the Devils were going to do with the roster and be successful moving forward. Sunny Mehta sold him on a plan that this team will be a perennial contender for many years to come.
Sunny Mehta Trades Jacob Markstrom and Signs Arseny Gritsyuk
The Devils general manager had a busy few days. It was going to be a tough job for Mehta as he had to restructure the roster and fix the cap issues left by the previous administration. However, Mehta continued to work his magic by trading Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
We’ve acquired Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jacob Markstrom and Angus Crookshank.
📰: https://t.co/bw01tZRhiP pic.twitter.com/6WDNh85l6j
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) June 30, 2026
The Devils were able to shed Markstrom’s two-year contract extension that carries a $6 million AAV. That deal was signed early last season. However, the Devils needed to get out of it. As part of the deal, the Devils did not retain any money on the contract. New Jersey could not do that.
In addition, the Devils add depth to their roster with Rodrigues, who has one year left on his deal. Jesper Boqvist is a serviceable fourth-line center for the Devils. All players Mehta got in Florida when he was an assistant General Manager.
In addition, Arseny Gritsyuk signed a new three-year extension at $3.25 million a season right after the Markstrom trade.
Gritsyuk had 31 points (13 goals and 18 assists) in 66 games in his first NHL season. There are high hopes he can translate into a top-six winger for the Devils, but he found a role on the third line last season and showed he can play with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.
The Devils are in a better position than they were last season in terms of depth. They still need a top-six winger or center to pair with Jack Hughes. Again, what does Mehta do with the goaltending? Will it just be Jake Allen and Nico Daws?
Those questions will be answered another day, but for now, the New Jersey Devils have captain Nico Hischier around for at least six more seasons. This upcoming season is the final year of his current deal, with the five-year extension kicking in next July 1st.
Now it is time for this group to take the next step.
