There are several teams keeping a close watch on what happens this summer with Nico Hischier, the 27-year-old New Jersey Devils captain who has one year left on his contract, carrying a $7.25 million average annual value.Hischier’s agent, Allain Roy, stopped into New Jersey for a first meeting with new Devils general manager Sunny Mehta about two weeks ago en route to Switzerland to meet with his client before the IIHF World Championships. My understanding is that so far, those preliminary discussions have been amicable and positive. 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.Mehta’s priority is to build a winning contender and do so as quickly as possible. So he needs clarity on that very important asset.Which teams are paying attention? It might be easier to point out which aren’t. It would be a long, long list of suitors for a talented 200-foot center in his prime. The Los Angeles Kings just lost Anze Kopitar to retirement. Maybe you’ve heard the Minnesota Wild could use a center upgrade. And would there be a better fit than the Montreal Canadiens? Hischier is basically the left-handed Nick Suzuki. Imagine those two guys 1-2 down the middle. It’s the exact hole in the Canadiens’ lineup that needs addressing. There’s no doubt that Montreal would be among the interested parties if and when Hischier became available.And, again, add 12 or so more teams to that discussion. This type of player rarely becomes available.But he’s not, for now. The only focus at the moment is continuing dialogue on a possible extension.So there are two factors at play. Mehta is trying to find an extension number that works for both sides while keeping the Devils as competitive as possible under the salary cap. But Hischier also needs to hear all the right things from the new GM as far as getting New Jersey looking like a contender in a hurry.My sense is that those elements were all part of those initial conversations between Roy and Mehta.All things being equal, it would appear an extension is the most likely outcome, but things are at an early and delicate stage.Coaching check-inThe Vegas Golden Knights’ late-season coaching change has been nothing short of miraculous. The Golden Knights are 18-4-1 under John Tortorella heading into Game 4 of the Western Conference final on Tuesday.