Yesterday, reputable hockey pundit Pierre LeBrun reported that New Jersey Devils' captain Nico Hischier's contract extension has gotten "over the hump." He noted that the bulk of the negotiations are completed, and that teams that were hoping for his availability in the trade market are pivoting to other options.
This comes after it was reported from multiple outlets, including LeBrun, Chris Johnston, and Kevin Weekes, in the last couple of weeks that there were ongoing negotiations and positive developments.
Thus, it can be assumed that a contract extension will be announced on July 1, the very first day that Hischier is eligible to sign an extension. The belief, based on Weekes' words, is that this will be a medium-term deal (4-6 years) and come in between $11 and $13 million annually.
For Devils fans, this should absolutely calm the waters in regard to Hischier's future with the team.
Many were speculating about the captain's desire to stay in the organization given his recurring presence on trade boards and in rumors, but that concern can be quelled at this point in time. It should have been obvious from the get go, given that he himself expressed desire to stay put in the organization, but it's nice to know for sure.
The sticker shock of a presumed deal in the $11-13 million AAV range shouldn't be a concern, either, given the ever-rising salary cap climate. The reality is that, for a player who has neared in on a point-per-game pace in the last half-decade, while playing some of the most difficult minutes in the league, with superb underlying statistics, at a premium position, who plays in all situations and is the captain of the team, this number presents as more than reasonable. In fact, it certainly wouldn't be a stretch to say that this number is multiple million less than he could get on the open market, especially given the scope of the center market.
Barring a significant trade prior to or at the draft, Hischier's extension very well may be the first real stamp of new GM Sunny Mehta's tenure, and it's a stamp well worth imprinting on the team. Expect nothing but a Hischier extension as soon as he's eligible to sign the paper.
Add us as a preferred source on Google