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NHL rumors: Canadiens, Kings, Wild named as possible trade suitors for Devils captain
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- NHL rumors: Canadiens, Kings, Wild named as possible trade suitors for Devils captain
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It was a disappointing season for the New Jersey Devils in 2025-26. After finishing 42-37-3, they finished in seventh in the Metropolitan Division and missed the playoffs. Jack Hughes has vowed the team will be better in 2026-27 .
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Now, there is a question of whether Hughes will be running it back with his captain, Nico Hischier. Hischier is entering the final year of a seven-year contract extension he signed with the team in 2019 and took effect for the 2020-21 campaign. There are rumors that the new general manager, Sunny Mehta, could be moving on from Hischier this summer, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
Mehta and Hischier's agent, Allain Roy, met before Hischier went to the IIHF World Championships to discuss the possibility of an extension.
"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," LeBrun wrote.
Still, some factors could cause an extension to be an issue. Hischier is likely to demand a raise on his currently $7.25 million AAV. Meanwhile, the Devils are tight on salary cap space. If the two sides cannot come to an agreement, multiple teams will be interested in the services of Hischier.
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"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," LeBrun added.
The Los Angeles Kings could be an option, as Anze Kopitar is retiring, and Hischier could be a solid replacement. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild need to upgrade at center as well. The Montreal Canadiens are currently in the Eastern Conference Finals, and Nick Suzuki is a major reason why. Adding Hischier would give the Canadiens two similar players, with the only difference being that Hischier is left-handed. Those three would not be the only ones interested as well.
"And, again, add 12 or so more teams to that discussion. This type of player rarely becomes available," the insider continued.
Regardless of whether Hischier is extended quickly or not, if the Devils do decide to move him, there will be a major market for his services.
