There's no doubt that the New Jersey Devils have their work cut out for them this offseason. We're now entering season four since their record-breaking 2022-23 campaign, yet disappointment has been the prevailing theme.
Among the many decisions new GM Sunny Mehta will have to make, a potential Nico Hischier extension is surely at the top of the list. Countless rumors have swirled, but as Pierre LeBrun pointed out in The Athletic recently: "[Hischier is] a super loyal guy. He's proud to be their captain."
The question is: How proud? Would he be willing to intentionally take a "hometown discount" to give the team more wiggle room?
Let's make one thing abundantly clear: Hischier is fully within his right to try to squeeze every penny out of his contract situation. In fact, if I were in his situation, I'd probably do the same.
But the look in Hischier's eyes at each depressing season-ending interview says so much without saying anything at all. He hates to lose, and unfortunately, he's seen way too much of it. Whether it's the Devils or Team Switzerland, it's really all he knows.
But that's not his fault. Hischier's teams have lacked the talent needed to reach the promised land. The Devils have a minus-146 goal differential since he entered the league. He's a plus-15 in that span.
He's good for roughly 30 goals and 65+ points every season, all while taking on the toughest of matchups with his strong two-way play. Behind Jack Hughes , having Hischier as a 2C is an absolute luxury. Given the current cap climate, he's pretty damn close to irreplaceable. There's a reason Montreal Canadiens fans have been clamoring for Hischier like Jersey Shore seagulls descending on a dropped boardwalk fry.
Only Hischier knows for sure…but maybe — just maybe — all this losing has shifted his priorities. While AFP Analytics projects an eight-year, $11.459 million AAV contract for him, say he takes $9 or $10 million instead. He'd still earn $72–80 million over the life of the deal, on top of the roughly $45 million he's already earned in the NHL.
That extra cap flexibility could make a world of difference when attempting to properly complement the roster. Given the hand Mehta and co. have been dealt, every decision is going to require intensive thought. This would add some slight, but much needed breathing room.
However, there would certainly be risk involved for Hischier. While the forfeiture of millions of dollars would be guaranteed in this scenario, winning would still be far from guaranteed. Even if it directly makes the team better, the Stanley Cup remains the hardest trophy to win in sports.
Connor McDavid took a hometown discount for his extension that kicks in this upcoming season. As a future precedent, many athletes will likely look towards how much — if at all — the Oilers can benefit from the extra cap. But it's still an unknown with so many other variables that come into play.
Recently, the Devils have yet to rattle off any sort of legitimately deep run. Per PuckPedia , they have just $10,902,500 in cap space…and that's with Arseny Gritsyuk, Simon Nemec and Paul Cotter contract-less as pending RFAs. While fans should place their full trust in Mehta, it's not going to be a simple turnaround.
To reiterate, Hischier should not be expected to accept anything less than his market value. But if he does, he'll join Jake Allen and Jonas Siegenthaler as Devils players who accepted deals widely viewed as underpays.
New Jersey is known to be a premier destination, spoken highly of by agents and players alike. Hischier furthering that trend could send shockwaves throughout the NHL and add even more legitimacy to the idea of future free agents looking toward the Garden State, in addition to directly aiding the cap situation.
