Nico Hischier’s Situation with the Devils Drawing League-Wide Attention

Nico Hischier’s future with the New Jersey Devils sounds less than certain as he enters the final year of his contract. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic is reporting that preliminary discussions between his agent, Allain Roy, and new GM Sunny Mehta have begun, and while they’ve been described as positive, nothing is set in stone.

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With both sides exploring a potential extension, LeBrun points out that if a deal isn’t reached this summer, it’s unlikely New Jersey would risk starting the season with its captain on an expiring contract. That has drawn attention around the NHL, with at least 12 teams ready to pick up the phone and talk trade.

Hischier, a 27-year-old two-way center in his prime, would attract significant interest if made available, with numerous teams monitoring the situation. Among them, LeBrun names the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, and Montreal Canadiens.

He writes:

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.”

LeBrun, who is a long-time Canadiens supporter, got into a bit more detail when it came to where Hischier might fit as a Canadien. “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.”

Ultimately, he believes a deal will get done, keeping Hischier in New Jersey. Like many other big-name players with big decisions to make, Hischier wants to know what the plan is and how the Devils are going to get better before committing long-term.

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