Nico Hischier's uncertainty over his future with the New Jersey Devils must be troubling.
In light of the Devils firing general manager Tom Fitzgerald, Hischier was asked if he would be willing to sign an extension under a new arrangement when he became eligible on July 1.
His answer doesn't give any confidence about his future in New Jersey.
“I'm just focused on playing hockey here,” Hischier said. "I still have another year. I'm with the Devils right now, and then we'll see what happens."
There is no way the Devils should trade Hischier if they have a feeling he wants to stay in New Jersey. However, if they get any suggestion that they want a change, there are ways for devils to come out of it with little or no loss.
First, the Devils will need a new GM. Whoever that GM is, he should be fired in the same manner as Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon – an offensive-minded manager who isn't afraid to make a move for the betterment of his roster.
Once a GM's name comes out and if there is any hesitation from Hischier to commit, the Devils should explore trade options.
Of course, that leaves New Jersey without a 2C. However, when they get there they will have to cross that bridge.
The Devils have two viable options to extract something in return for Hischier.
minnesota wild
On any other team that doesn't have a top-10 player in the league like Jack Hughes, Hischier is a 1C. Well, the Minnesota Wild are hungry for a first-line center, and Hischier could be their solution.
In return?
The Devils are going to need Quinn Hughes.
New Jersey did not have a clear No. 1 defenseman heading into the 2025–26 season, something that ultimately led to their demise.
Recently, Luke Hughes and Dougie Hamilton have played better, and as a result, the Devils have improved.
Still, Quinn is the ultimate No. 1 defenseman, and transformed the Devils from the playoffs to a Stanley Cup contender.
Yes, Fitzgerald nails that situation in the 2025-26 season. Yet, he has yet to put pen to paper in Minnesota. If the Devils are adamant about uniting the Hughes tri-force in New Jersey, Hischier might be their best bargaining chip to do so.
It's not over until it's over. A new, aggressive GM should definitely explore this option.
ottawa senators
If not Quinn, Brady Tkachuk is the next best thing.
Up north, there is now speculation over Tkachuk's future with the Ottawa Senators after some controversial comments on a podcast by Tkachuk and his brother Matthew Tkachuk.
Well, if there's any reason to believe Tkachuk could be on his way out of Ottawa, he's undoubtedly the next best thing to Jack Hughes, if it wouldn't be Quinn.
Tkachuk and Jack have remained close through the United States Hockey Development Program. However, their friendship has grown to another level after Hughes and Tkachuk won gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Tkachuk would finally give the Devils a legitimate first line with Jack and Jesper Bratt.
On the contract side of things, both Tkachuk and Hischier's contracts expire on July 1, 2027. The Senators captain has a full no-move clause, while there is a 10-team no-trade list.
Still, it's hard to see a situation where Tkachuk refuses to be traded to New Jersey, a team that has the Jacks as the face of their franchise and is close enough to contend.
If the Devils captain indicates at all that he is not committed to remaining in New Jersey, a new GM should be aggressive but make sure he maximizes his return.
Quinn or Tkachuk certainly mitigate the damage of losing Hischier, though they will need to find a new 2C.
There's still plenty of time to figure this out, but buckle up. It could be a bumpy ride.
