Devils sign Nico Hischier to five-year extension
New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier became eligible to sign a contract extension at noon on Wednesday, and he and the team wasted little time in putting pen to paper.
The Devils announced Wednesday afternoon that Hischier has signed a five-year contract extension that will kick in for the 2027-28 season and run through the 2031-32 campaign while carrying a salary cap hit 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. đź“°: bit.ly/44EPyVj
The two-way center, who has two top-four finishes for the Selke Trophy, has one year remaining on his current contract at an average annual value of $7.25 million.
Hischier, the No. 1 overall pick by New Jersey in the 2017 NHL Draft, has been a model of consistency throughout his NHL career. In each of the past five seasons, he’s posted at least 60 points, and he helped lead the team to Stanley Cup Playoff appearances in both 2023 and 2025.
This past season, he played a full 82 games for the first time since his rookie year, but his offensive production took a minor dive, as he finished with 66 points on 28 goals and 38 assists. That point-per-game rate of 0.8 marked his lowest of the last five years, but New Jersey’s operation as a whole took a dive this year with star Jack Hughes missing considerable time with injury and depth scoring struggles.
Hischier also served as an alternate captain for Team Switzerland at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, where he produced four points in five games as the Swiss lost to Team Finland in the quarterfinals.
Now, with new general manager Sunny Mehta at the helm, New Jersey has added a quality depth piece in Evan Rodrigues to the middle six in a deal with the Florida Panthers that cleared cap space by sending goalie Jacob Markstrom to Sunrise.
With Hischier’s contract situation settled, Hughes healthy and more help in the lineup, the Devils could return to being a potent offensive powerhouse, which would make them a strong contender to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a Metropolitan Division that is wide open behind the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
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