Nico Hischier says staying with the New Jersey Devils was about more than just a contract decision. For him, it came down to paying back the team that gave him his NHL shot in the first place.
In The Athletic, Hischier made clear that free agency never felt like the right path. “For me it was clear: My goal is to give something back to New Jersey.
They gave me a chance to play in the NHL. They picked me.
That’s also a reason for me to stay. I still believe in the guys we have in that dressing room - that we can be a good team.”
He also said the Devils’ recent management changes led to some conversations about where things were headed. “We discussed some things.
And we came to the end, and I want to be part of the plan. I want to be part of this.”
Meanwhile, the Quinn Hughes situation is still drawing attention in Minnesota, where Wild GM Bill Guerin’s latest comments only added more uncertainty. Guerin said he has a strong relationship with Hughes and his agent, and that the two sides stay in touch constantly. But he also made it clear there’s no guarantee Hughes will follow the same path as Cale Makar, whose recent record-setting extension may have reset expectations around the league.
One of the bigger variables, as Guerin noted, is Hughes’ own priorities. His interest in potentially playing with his brothers could matter more than contract precedent. And when a radio host suggested the Wild were boxed in and could never move Hughes, Guerin shot that down with, “I can do whatever I want.”
The Hellebuyck situation in Winnipeg is shaping up as another major offseason storyline. Murat Ates of The Athletic looked at what the Jets might target if they move Connor Hellebuyck, listing Connor Ingram, Cam Talbot, James Reimer, Matt Murray, and Petr Mrazek among the possible UFA options.
Ates said the cleanest approach would be to land a backup goalie as part of the Hellebuyck deal, though he noted Winnipeg wouldn’t have to do it that way. He wrote: “If Cheveldayoff finds a trade partner who can’t spare a goaltender, there’s nothing stopping him from pivoting toward making multiple trades.
In theory, the first would send Hellebuyck out the door for multiple first-round picks instead of roster players. That draft capital could then be used to shop for goaltending help in a subsequent deal - perhaps after giving Skinner some time to establish himself in his new city.”
At this point, a Hellebuyck trade feels less like a question of if and more a question of what Winnipeg can extract in return. The bigger issue is timing, not direction, and whether Hellebuyck is willing to sit games remains one of the key things to watch.
In Other News...
Three Devils Prospects Are Running Out Of Time To Break Through
The Devils have a small but important cluster of prospects heading into a pivotal season, with Josh Filmon, Ethan Edwards and Seamus Casey all entering the final year of their contracts. Each one is at a different stage of the climb, but the common thread is simple enough: this is the year they have to show real progress if they want to stay in the conversation. For Filmon, that means hanging onto a roster spot in Utica while bringing more offense. Edwards has to keep pushing for a larger role and prove he can stand out in a crowded field of call-up candidates.
Casey brings the highest ceiling of the group, but his path is tied just as much to availability as ability, because staying healthy is central to his development and his chance to earn NHL looks. The Devils have seen enough from all three to believe there is still something to work with, yet the margin for patience is getting thinner. With contracts running down and competition everywhere, this season may determine whether they become part of New Jerseys next wave or just another set of prospects who never quite broke through. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Face A Bigger Question As Hischier's Status Keeps Rising
Nico Hischiers place in the league keeps climbing, and the latest sign came this week when NHL Network ranked the Devils captain No. 43 on its list of the top 50 NHL players. It comes on the heels of his five-year contract extension in New Jersey, another reminder that the organization is building around a center who has become one of its most important pieces both on and off the ice.
The Devils will also have plenty of national exposure to show off that core, with their 2026-27 broadcast schedule including 12 games on ESPN and TNT. But as the roster picture gets clearer in Newark, the larger question around Quinn Hughes is not getting any simpler. Cale Makars eight-year extension in Colorado only tightens the salary-cap squeeze across the league, making it more difficult for the Devils to find a path if they want to chase another elite defenseman. [Read more 🡒]
Timo Meier Faces A Big Devils Question Entering 2026-27
Timo Meier heads into 2026-27 still looking like one of the more important pieces in New Jerseys forward group, and the Devils are counting on him to stay in their top six and drive offense at a higher level. He played 77 games last season and finished with 44 points, a solid year that also included a five-game absence for personal leave, while his name remained prominent enough to earn selection to Swedens mens hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The question for the Devils is whether this is the season Meier turns that steady production into something bigger. He is entering the fourth year of his contract, and the expectation around the team is that he can push past the 60-point mark if his role and usage hold. For a club trying to keep its offense layered and dangerous, what Meier does next could matter as much as any move on the roster. [Read more 🡒]