Jack Hughes/Nico Hischier Contracts Look Like Bargains For New Jersey Devils

Last year, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald was laughed at and ridiculed mercilessly by many in the hockey media for signing his top center and former first-overall pick Jack Hughes to an eight-year, $64 Million contract. Most writers didn’t believe Hughes earned such a contract, and they panned the risk the Devils took on the deal.

The scenario was nearly Identical to the comments made when Devils inked captain Nico Hischier to his seven-year contract worth $7.25 million annually.

Then 2021-22 came around and both players had break-out campaigns. Hughes was over a point per game plotting 56 pts in just 49 games in an injury-plagued season. Hischier, on the other hand, played 70 games. It took a while to get it together, but his second half was outstanding collecting 60 pts on the season.

This summer other teams are making the Devils look like they have some of the best contracts in the league. The Ottawa Senators started off by signing Josh Norris to an eight-year contract that carries a cap hit of $7.95 million. Then the Sens signed former third-overall pick Tim Stutzel to an eight-year deal worth $8.35 million per season.

Things seemed to follow suit in St.Louis where they signed forwards Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas to identical deals worth almost $8.13 million over eight years. Thomas put in 77 points over 72 games last year. Kyrou had 75 points in 74 games.

The Islanders just re-signed Matt Barzal to a massive eight-year deal. Lou Lamoriello’s Islanders will shell out $9.15 million to Barzal until the end of this decade.

Nico Hischier is hoping to become Patrice Bergeron 2.0. If that happens, his salary is a great deal and might even be a bargain in the coming seasons. Jack Hughes is quickly becoming a top-10 center in the league. To have him locked up for the next eight years for $8 million per season looks more and more like the next best value contract in the National Hockey League.