Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - 2026-27 offseason part III

[Forge]

Hischer-Devils over the hump
I mentioned earlier this week that all signs pointed to Nico Hischier likely eventually signing an extension based on the current tone of contract talks with the New Jersey Devils.

I was told Thursday night that those talks were now over the hump in terms of the meaty part of negotiations. There is still work to be done on it, and it can’t be finalized until July 1 because he has one year left on his current deal, but barring an unforeseen obstacle as talks progress, teams that were hoping the Devils captain would become available are now moving on.

My understanding is the Devils wanted to go long term on the extension while Hischier’s camp, led by agent Allain Roy, started with a shorter-term proposition and since then, the sides have found middle ground.

 

[Devs3cups]

Is that LeBrun? Great news. Middle ground is most likely 5-6 years then? I’ll take that.

 

[UncleJunior]

I am more than happy paying Nico through his age 32-33 years. If things go well for he and the team, great! If not move on

 

[Devils Trap]

What sir was this post in reference to?

No post, just pure hopium that we do something

 

[Devils Trap]

Build the statue - Give him 6 years as a middle ground. Great player to build around and certainly not the problem.

 

[Devs3cups]

So is this getting announced right on July 1st? Certainly seems like it if the majority of the contract is lined up and only minor details need to be figured out in the next week and a half.

 

[Devils Trap]

So is this getting announced right on July 1st? Certainly seems like it if the majority of the contract is lined up and only minor details need to be figured out in the next week and a half.

I think so. It makes sense its the first thing needed to be done. If Nico isnt signing it totally changes the summer and what we target etc

 

[Devs3cups]

I think so. It makes sense its the first thing needed to be done. If Nico isnt signing it totally changes the summer and what we target etc

Such great news it appears this is getting done. Love it.

 

[Devils Trap]

Such great news it appears this is getting done. Love it.

wen Grits though

 

[Devs3cups]

wen Grits though

WHERE GRITS EXTENSION?!?

 

[Devils Trap]

WHERE GRITS EXTENSION?!?

With Nico signed we now know we can give Grits 19 million per season. A fair resolution all things considered

 

[Forge]

Adin Hill, baby

(Given source, can probably ignore)

 

[Forge]

Elias #3 behind leclair and tkachuk

 

[dzubrus8]

sounds like the canucks are about to sell everyone. i hope sunny is one of the guys picking through the carcasses for some meat.

Wonder if Mercer for Debrusk with some retention could work for both sides? He’s been a PP merchant in Vancouver but has decent production. On the downside it does remove a right handed shot from the team and one of the only wingers who is at all willing to play center, albeit begrudgingly. For Vancouver they get younger and see if they can get Mercer back to the 45+ point winger he started as for the Devils (spoiler: I don’t think they’ll be successful)

Reasonable.

Basically breaks down to Hamilton for 26 2nd (fine) and McTavish for #12, which is also fine depending on how you feel about already having committed 7 million to him (a tricky question, but given where the league is at financially, if you feel Mctavish is a second line player, this is fine)

Again, I'm fairly whelmed by Mctavish and I wouldn't be jumping up and down at his acquisition or anything, but I get adding him and taking a shot. And there is some center versatility there. And there's nothing wrong with the value on this trade as far as I'm concerned.

If you take out the Hamilton for 2 then I wonder how 12 for McTavish comps to the Blackhawks Kirby Dach trade, seems like a reasonable comparison. I still dont think I’d do this trade. Pick 50 isn’t super valuable to me whereas 12 has a moderate to good chance of being an impact top-9 player in the next few years. I would include 12 for Kyrou or Larkin etc to be clear but feels rich for McTavish. If anything I’d do Hamilton and a 2 or 3 for McTavish.

If Nemec takes less than 7m AAV I probably prefer to keep him over Hamilton but if he’s seeking 8 9 or 10+ then I’d rather keep Hamilton for 2 more years and retry for a top-4 RD.

Also I wonder if Kesselring eliminates Nemec / Dougie. They could prob use another D but not sure

They definitely do in my book. They have 2 NHL defensemen signed for next year in Orlov and Dickinson (20 years old, was decent as a 19 year old rookie), both lefties. Kesselring and Mukhamadulin both RFAs, Kesselring being the only righty. Nemec makes way too much sense for them. They don’t have nearly as many D prospects as forward prospects and their NHL forward corps is very young while their D corps is not at all.

Given positional value and needs I think they’d actually offer more than a B prospect for Nemec flip I think it’d be someone really solid or maybe 2 B prospects / 1 B prospect and 2nd round pick etc.

 

[dzubrus8]

Is that LeBrun? Great news. Middle ground is most likely 5-6 years then? I’ll take that.

What are we thinking AAV? 5x13? 6x12?

 

[Devils Trap]

What are we thinking AAV? 5x13? 6x12?

Believe Weekes said like 4 x 12 a while back. So if Nico didnt want longer term we will need to pay slighty more IMO.

6 x 13 possibly ? Im not going to haggle over 1 million to get the Franchise captain signed

 

[Devs3cups]

What are we thinking AAV? 5x13? 6x12?

Yeah I'm thinking 5-6 years at 12-13 mil

 

[dzubrus8]

Believe Weekes said like 4 x 12 a while back. So if Nico didnt want longer term we will need to pay slighty more IMO.

6 x 13 possibly ? Im not going to haggle over 1 million to get the Franchise captain signed

Sorry I dont follow I thought more years => lower AAV. So a 4x12 would probably be a 6x10-11?

 

[Mgd31]

I’m thinking 5x11.5

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Sorry I dont follow I thought more years => lower AAV. So a 4x12 would probably be a 6x10-11?

Don’t think more years means lower AAV in this case. Certainly not that much less

 

[Devils Trap]

Sorry I dont follow I thought more years => lower AAV. So a 4x12 would probably be a 6x10-11?

Usually yes, but if what Lebrun is saying that we want to give him more term and Nico wanted shorter term. We will need to improve the offer to make it more appealing and bridge the gap between what they want and what we want

 

[Devs3cups]

I'm thinking 6 years, 12.5 mil AAV

 

[Guadana]

I’m thinking 5x11.5

I don't think will sell himself for less than 12.5 mil for his best years. Its okay to take lower price when you hit the market. But in situation where team should pay for older years its reasonable to down cap hit. For 28-33 years? It should be max.

 

[NJDevs26]

Patiently waiting for this Sunny bomb ....

Letting Colliton ‘seek other opportunities’ isn’t enough of a bomb for you?

 

[Devils Trap]

Letting Colliton ‘seek other opportunities’ isn’t enough of a bomb for you?

Ill take a 5th overall for 4th liner at this point - im famished