The ceiling for top defenseman contracts may not sit still for long.
Macklin Celebrini’s five-year, $94MM extension reset the NHL’s record for highest cap hit, but Newsday’s Andrew Gross believes Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer could be the next player to push it even higher. Schaefer is eligible for an extension in July, and with the cap set to rise again by then, Gross floated the idea that a five-year, $95MM deal could be enough to get a quick agreement done.
Schaefer’s camp, naturally, would have every reason to aim a little higher. The Calder Trophy winner put up 23 goals and 36 assists last season while averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time per game.
There’s also been chatter around Hurricanes restricted free agent Alexander Nikishin, and not all of it has held up. Some speculation this summer suggested he was after $8MM per season on his next contract, but when RG’s Daria Tuboltseva asked him about that figure, Nikishin said he wants more than that.
He didn’t give a number, and he also didn’t say whether he’s looking for a long-term deal or something shorter. The 24-year-old’s only NHL season produced 11 goals and 22 assists in 81 games, and that makes some of the recent five-year contracts for Brandt Clarke, Simon Nemec, and Pavel Mintyukov imperfect comparisons since each had considerably more NHL experience than Nikishin.
Even so, he’s clearly aiming high.
For the Devils, Brett Pesce spent much of last season battling through injuries. He told Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News that a finger injury lingered for a good portion of the year, and the lower-body injury he suffered in early March was an MCL sprain.
That combination left him appearing in fewer games than he played in. Pesce said he’s now fully recovered from both injuries and has already had a full summer of training.
The veteran still has four years left on his contract at a $5.5MM AAV, and when he’s healthy, he remains a key shutdown presence for New Jersey.
In Other News...
Devils Finally Have A Reason To Care About Utica Again
Utica has not been much more than a distant outpost for the Devils in recent seasons, but this summer gave the organization a reason to pay closer attention. Sunny Mehta, who oversees hockey operations in New Jersey, has pushed through a meaningful reset of the Comets roster and management structure, starting with the hiring of Braden Birch as assistant general manager and general manager in Utica.
The roster work has been just as notable, with the Comets adding several players who bring real AHL scoring potential while also keeping important pieces from last season in place. For New Jersey, the hope is straightforward: make Utica more competitive, more stable and more useful as a development stop for the next wave of NHL talent. [Read more 🡒]
Tomas Nosek Leaves Devils After Sudden Career Turnaround
Tomas Nosek is heading back to where it all started, signing with HC Dynamo Pardubice for the upcoming season after a long NHL run that included stops with the Devils and Panthers. For New Jersey, he was a veteran forward brought in for depth and experience, and for Florida he became part of a championship group, finishing with a Stanley Cup win in 2025.
The move sends Nosek back to Czechia and to the club where he launched his career, a full-circle decision that fits the stage he is at now. After more than 500 NHL games, the jump to Europe likely marks the final stretch of his professional playing days, closing out a career that took an unexpected late turn into a title run. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Suddenly Have A New Samu Salminen Dilemma
Samu Salminens next move is suddenly a real talking point for the Devils, because the forward is nearing free agency after four years of NCAA hockey and still has not signed with New Jersey. For a team that always has one eye on the pipeline and the other on the clock, that leaves his path hanging in the balance at just the moment his college career appears to be reaching its natural end.
A recent Colorado court ruling has made the situation more complicated by opening the door for some athletes who began college sports in the 2022-23 season and used up four years of eligibility to return to NCAA athletics. Salminen now has a wider menu of choices than the usual pro-hockey decision tree, with the ability to sign with any NHL team, go back to college hockey, or keep his career moving in Europe, and that uncertainty is exactly what makes his case worth watching for New Jersey. [Read more 🡒]