With the year left on his contract, Nico Hischier is extension eligible. Could he be on the move this offseason if talks with new management don’t go well?
The Chris Johnston Show: Chris Johnston, when asked about the New Jersey Devils and if they could look at trading forward Nico Hischier, who has a year left on his contract.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Julien McKenzie: “I wonder if this is the summer where New Jersey tries to really shake things up with some kind of trade. The fact that you lose out on a Quinn Hughes, for example, you maybe, you’re, you’re, you’re, you have an appetite to do something big.”
Johnston: “Well (Nico) Hischier’s one year from free agency, right.”
McKenzie: “Right. So, like, that’s, that’s what I’m that’s what I’m kind of hinting at. Like, is, if you are not choosing to extend Nico Hischier whatever reason, that is your centrepiece in a trade, ifyou want to do well.”
Johnston: “And I think it’s what he wants. You know, this is the all of the leverage is shifted to the player in this circumstance. And so, you know, I think one of the, probably the first order of business from a roster standpoint, is, you know, for the new leader in New Jersey to get a sense where that stands.
Is Hischier open to an extension? What’s it going to cost? Either get that done or you’re trading him. you know, I, I don’t imagine they would go into a lame duck year with him. I mean, just it, doesn’t, doesn’t feel like that’s going to be the new trend and around the league.
I mean, when you look at all the pending UFAs to come, and that includes guys like Quinn, Quinn Hughes might be the exception, because he just arrived in Minnesota. He’s only got one year. But, you know, Cale Makar is going to be one year from UFA this summer. I would expect, you know, I, frankly, I just expect the Avalanche to sign him. I don’t have any reason to believe he wants to leave or wants to test the market.
But it sort of feels like for all the players that could be 2027 UFAS, 2026 summer is huge. You’re either signing an extension then or we’re talking about a trade. And then I’d say the same for the 2028 guys, which includes McDavid and Matthews and a bunch of others. So then …”
McKenzie: “Let’s not jump ahead.”
Johnston: “Well, I’m just saying the new way of things, though, it doesn’t seem like we’re going to see as many players, the top players, get to UFA. But sort of what their UFA window is, is the year before they can hit the market. You know, you it’s either a trade or sign scenario.”
McKenzie: “Considering how these moves have been flying fast and furious, if there was a way, some of those extensions could have been done now, I’m sure maybe some of those players would have done that too, instead of waiting for July 1st.”
Johnston: “Right. So I just think the Hischier, the Hischier decision is much sooner than we think, because, you know, he’s either signing in New Jersey this summer. Doesn’t have to be on July 1st. Could be July 5 or August 12th, or whatever day he wants. But I think it has to be moving towards a signing or, you know, he’s likely being dealt.
And obviously, because it’s a, it’s a weak free agent class. You know, center is a premium position, and there’s a lot of notable teams out there that are looking for, you know, a front line kind of player, like, like, Hischier would be, I mean, he would have huge, huge value as a trade piece, if that’s the way this ends up breaking.”
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