Нью-Жерси Девилс багийн ахлагч Нико Хишир чөлөөт агент болох боломжоос татгалзан, багтайгаа таван жилийн 58.5 сая долларын гэрээ байгууллаа.
Нью-Жерси Девилс багийн сүүлийн дөрвөн улирлын үзүүлэлт тогтворгүй байсан ч 27 настай төвийн довтлогч Нико Хишир багтаа үлдэх шийдвэр гаргажээ. Тэрээр 2027 онд чөлөөт агент болох боломжтой байсан ч долоодугаар сарын 1-ний өдөр гэрээгээ сунгасан байна. Хишир багийнхаа төлөө хичээл зүтгэл гаргаж, өөрийг нь NHL-д тоглох боломжоор хангасан байгууллагадаа өрийн хариуг барихыг зорьж буйгаа илэрхийлжээ.
Багийн бүрэлдэхүүнд Жэк Хьюз, Тимо Майер, Жеспер Братт болон Люк Хьюз зэрэг тоглогчид урт хугацааны гэрээтэй үлдээд байна. Түүнчлэн Нью-Жерси Девилс хаалгач Якоб Маркстрёмыг Калгари Флэймс рүү явуулж, оронд нь туршлагатай довтлогч Эван Родригесийг эгнээндээ нэгтгэсэн юм. Багийн шинэ ерөнхий менежер Санни Мехтагийн удирдлага дор тоглогчид ирэх улиралд амжилттай тоглож, плей-оффын эрхээ эргүүлэн авахыг гол зорилгоо болгож байна.
Хишир багийнхаа дотоод нөөц бололцоонд итгэлтэй байгаа бөгөөд гэмтэл бэртлээс сэргийлж, дөрвөн гарааг тэнцвэртэй ашиглах нь амжилтын түлхүүр гэж үзэж байна. Өнгөрсөн улиралд 87 оноо авч, плей-оффоос гадуур үлдсэн нь багийн хувьд том сургамж болжээ. Ахлагчийн хувьд хүнд хэцүү үеийг даван туулж, Девилс хөгжөөн дэмжигчдийнхээ урам зоригоор дахин амжилт гаргахын төлөө тэмцэхээ онцоллоо.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
↓Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
MUNICH — The topsy-turvy nature of the past four New Jersey Devils seasons has been especially unsettling for Nico Hischier.
As captain since 2021, Hischier was heavily invested in New Jersey’s long-awaited return to the playoffs in 2022-23, only to experience the team’s precipitous 31-point decline the following season. That was followed by another return to the playoffs in 2024-25 and a fall back to 87 points last year, well beneath the wild-card cutoff in the Eastern Conference.
“I’ve learned it’s a ruthless league,” Hischier told The Athletic during the NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour.
It hasn’t turned the 27-year-old center into a ruthless operator, though.
Hischier had the opportunity as a prospective 2027 unrestricted free agent to take his time and survey options before making an important decision about his playing future. Choosing to play out his existing contract would almost certainly have maximized his earning potential in a rising-cap environment. And if he simply wanted off the ship in New Jersey, the chance to force the issue was there this summer, because the Devils would not have risked losing the two-way center for nothing if Hischier chose not to engage in discussions about a new contract.
Instead, the No. 1 pick from 2017 signed a five-year, $58.5 million extension on July 1 — the first day he was eligible.
“For me it was clear: My goal is to give something back to New Jersey,” Hischier said. “They gave me a chance to play in the NHL. They picked me.”
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Not only did his loyalty extend beyond the disappointment of last season, it also survived a front-office shakeup in the spring. Sunny Mehta was hired to replace Tom Fitzgerald in April, and Hischier came away with a good first impression of the team’s new general manager.
Most importantly, he wanted a sense of where the Devils felt they were headed after all of the lurching up and down the standings in recent seasons.
“We had some changes, and we wanted to know what the plan is,” Hischier said. “Obviously, there were talks. 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. Obviously, we weren’t really happy with how things have turned out the last few years, but we’ve shown that we can be a team that can be dangerous too. We just have to bring it every night.
“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.”
The foundation remains with Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt and Luke Hughes among the other players signed to long-term contracts in New Jersey. The Devils also added two first-round draft picks in the June trade that sent Šimon Nemec to the Calgary Flames — positioning themselves to acquire more immediate help in a subsequent trade — and brought in veteran forward Evan Rodrigues from the Florida Panthers in the deal that sent goalie Jacob Markström out of town.
When Hischier looks at the current roster, he sees plenty of opportunity for internal growth.
“I think we’re going to be more of a team moving forward,” he said. “If we all stay healthy — that’s important for us, too — then we can roll four lines and attack that way. We clearly want to have a bounce-back year and get back in those 16 spots. That’s the main target. I think we were all not happy how it was last year and we expect to be back.”
While Hischier is still getting to know Mehta on a personal level, he grew comfortable enough during those early discussions to place some faith in him. The fact Mehta arrived with two Stanley Cup wins on his resume from his time as Panthers assistant general manager didn’t hurt.
“He’s a smart guy,” Hischier said. “I think the experience from him from Florida will help us. I think he’s just a guy that’s aware of things and has his way.”
About to enter his 10th NHL season, Hischier said he’s still in learning mode himself. He thinks one area the Devils need to improve is not letting the inevitable down periods of a season linger as long as they did a year ago.
He’s also focused on not losing sight of the joy the sport should bring even during tough times — something he acknowledges is “easier said than done.”
“Throughout those years, you also still learn new things about yourself,” Hischier said. “Even in tough times, I feel you’re able to learn more. But you will never have all of the answers, too. That’s impossible, as well. You just try to do your best … and move forward.”
For him, that meant seeing the job through in New Jersey by committing what should be the most fruitful years of his NHL career to the team.
Even if more dollars or opportunity might have been out there had he waited another year to determine his future, Hischier simply did what he felt was right. The thought of chasing greener pastures wasn’t alluring to him.
“The best thing about being a New Jersey Devil is when you experience (for) the first time Devils playoff hockey and how excited the fans are,” Hischier said. “That’s what drives me. It’s fun skating out, and the Devils fans go nuts in the stadium. That’s what sport is about, sharing these feelings.
“Fans are excited, players are excited and you’re just playing for something.”
