The New Jersey Devils are rewarding captain Nico Hischier with a new extension.
Hischier, one of the top two-way centres in the NHL, agreed to a five-year, $58.5-million extension on Friday. The contract begins in the 2027-28 season.
The 27-year-old has played a key role for nine seasons with the Devils after being selected first overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.
He has scored at least 60 points in each of the last five seasons, including last year when he had 28 goals and 66 points while appearing in all 82 games.
He was named captain in 2021 and was a finalist for the Selke Trophy in 2023. The Switzerland native also competed for his country at the Olympics in February, recording one goal and three assists in five games.
Hischier’s extension marks the third major move of general manager Sunny Mehta’s first off-season at the helm. New Jersey also dealt defenceman Simon Nemec to the Calgary Flames for a picks package and goalie Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers in a five-player trade.
The Devils have missed the post-season in each of the past two years.
NJD