New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier may be ending his tenure in Newark. The Devils draft Hischier first overall in 2017 and named him a captain in 2021. He has been a consistent scoring leader for the team, with 66 points this season (28 goals, 38 assists), and he hit a career-high 35 goals last season. With Sunny Mehta taking over as the new GM, and Hischier having one more year on his contract before becoming a UFA, the question of an extension has become essential for the Devils to address this offseason.
Rising Tensions in Jersey
The Devils have been no strangers to disappointment in recent seasons. Inconsistent goaltending, odd coaching decisions, and poor management have left the team struggling to make it to the playoffs for years. The Devils have only made the playoffs three times in the last nine seasons, or since Hischier’s rookie season. Out of those playoff runs, they have only made it to the second round once.
Hischier’s frustrations with the team have become increasingly noticeable, especially as the Devils rounded out their season. After being shutout in their final game of the season against the Boston Bruins on April 14, Hischier called out his teammates for not playing their hardest and their low morale, stating that “if you’re checked out too early, then you shouldn’t be here.”
With free agency looming, this is not the right direction for the team or for Hischier to be moving in.
Hischier’s Future is in Question
Mehta and Hischier’s agent have reportedly begun talks discussing the star’s tenure in Jersey, as he has become an immediate priority of the new GM.
When asked directly about his future with the team in his end-of-season exit interview, Hischier did not give a clear response, but did claim to “love it here in New Jersey.” However, without an explicit commitment, the Devils may be forced to trade Hischier rather than let him walk away with nothing in return, putting pressure on Mehta to secure one of his stars as soon as possible.
Nico Hischier will be eligible to sign an extension with the team on July 1.
Until the Devils officially announce their plans for Hischier, New Jersey fans will be anxiously waiting to see what becomes of their captain. For a team still struggling with goaltending and constant injuries from other star players, such as Jack Hughes, losing their beloved captain would be an unsavory way to begin Mehta’s leadership, putting the team at even more of a disadvantage once October arrives.
After the vitriol Tom Fitzgerald faced for failing to land top defenseman Quinn Hughes, which contributed to the chain reaction that led to his ultimate firing, Jersey fans need something to believe in.
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