Nico Hischier signed a five-year extension with a $11.7 million AAV. Michael Reaves / Getty ImagesJuly 1, 2026 Updated 12:12 pm EDTThe contractNew Jersey Devils sign Nico Hischier to a five-year extension with a $11.7 million AAV.The Devils are putting in work this summer. Over the last couple of weeks, new general manager Sunny Mehta sold high on Šimon Nemec, moved Jacob Markstrom before his extension kicked in with zero retention, added some much-needed forward depth in Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist, and extended Nico Hischier a year early.This extension is a home run for New Jersey. Hischier has been one of the Devils’ most valuable players over the years, between his play-making, high-end defense, and all-situation deployment. It may seem like a lot for a 2C, but Hischier is more of a 1B to Jack Hughes and has leveled up in his absence over the years.
By working proactively, the Devils quiet any questions about a franchise player or such a pivotal position. It settles something incredibly high priority early and gives management a ton of time through the rest of the offseason to work on the fringes around its two superstar centers. Plus, it helps keep costs in check before market prices tick up any higher.The fact that Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid both took less on their next extensions may have helped the Devils, too. An $11.7 million cap hit is just above AFP Analytics’ projection on a long-term contract and below his market value. Hischier should be worth about $12.3 million a year, on average, over the next five seasons.It’s easy to get worried over the fact that Hischier didn’t sign for the maximum term, especially in today’s NHL empowerment era. But a five-year term, compared to a seven- or eight-year deal, actually only betters the chances of him living up to this value across the full contract. Age-related declines eventually catch up to everyone, including some of Hischier’s comps. Players like Ryan Kesler, Joe Pavelski, and Jonathan Toews all saw their levels drop in Years 6 and 7 after those similar seasons. So the Devils avoid overcommitting here and get the best version of Hischier during the strongest years of this playoff window. That next contract is a later problem. This is great business for the next five years.Contract grade: A-Jul 1, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
