3 Crucial Contract Decisions the Devils Face This Offseason

The New Jersey Devils are in store for an eventful offseason. After a discouraging 2025-26 campaign, it became clear that their current system is no longer working. But it looks like brighter things are in store for the team, especially with the addition of new general manager Sunny Mehta.

Ahead of next season, the organization is in the market for a retool that would put them on the fast track toward Stanley Cup contention. But which players need to be re-signed in the near future in order to make that happen? Here are the Devils’ three biggest potential extensions looming as the summer unfolds.

Nico Hischier

The first scenario — which should also be the easiest decision — is re-signing Nico Hischier. The Devils might need to add depth scoring, but their top-six core is mostly set in stone, with the captain leading the way. Giving Hischier a long-term extension would be an easy home run for Mehta.

Since being drafted first overall in 2017, he’s evolved into an ideal leader, becoming one of the best two-way centers in the league. For the last five seasons, he’s hit the 60-point threshold, including a career-high of 80 points in 2022-23 and a personal best of 35 goals last season.

Hischier is the kind of all-situations talent that’s extremely hard to come by. But his defensive efforts can also change the trajectory of a game — blocking shots, winning key faceoffs, and keeping opponents’ top lines at bay. Meaning, he’s an essential part of the Devils’ franchise, and should remain so for the foreseeable future.

“The next month is going to be important.”

Allain Roy on his client Nico Hischier, who is extension eligible on July 1, and where contract talks currently stand with the New Jersey Devils.

Full episode ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6M9xpRq7nT

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 4, 2026

He still has one year left in his current contract, which carries a cap hit of $7.25 million. Nonetheless, conversations between Mehta and Hischier’s agent, Allain Roy, have already begun, per The PuckPedia Hockey Show. Neither party has yet to emerge with any concrete numbers, but there’s no doubt that a higher average annual value (AAV) is in his future, possibly anywhere from $11 to $13 million.

Simon Nemec

In the coming months, the Devils must decide on Simon Nemec’s future in New Jersey. On July 1, he will become a restricted free agent (RFA), and it has become quite the debate among the fanbase whether or not they should keep him on the roster.

On the one hand, the organization believed that he would become an elite defenseman, taking over as the face of the Devils’ blue line alongside Luke Hughes. And for the most part, Nemec has delivered. He might have had the occasional defensive lull, but his offense was explosive this season, featuring everything from game-winning goals in overtime to a hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks.

His talent is undeniable, but the Devils need to weigh out their options. A long-term deal would lock in Nemec’s offensive capabilities, but would require committing to a higher price tag, in a scenario where cap space is already limited. The second possibility would be a bridge deal, which would allow Nemec to try to find some consistency. It would also provide the Devils with short-term flexibility at a lower AAV.

The third and final route would be to move him to bring in a top-six scorer, most likely as a bargaining chip in a bigger trade. Considering the team’s defensive surplus, their commitment to signing veteran blueliners, and the amount of talent already within the Devils’ pipeline, Nemec could easily be traded at some point during the summer.

Arseny Gritsyuk

Another candidate in the market for an extension is Arseny Gritsyuk, whose rookie campaign was a positive note amid a season of uncertainty. Following a seamless transition to North America, he scored 13 goals and tallied 31 points, graduating from a fourth-line to a solid middle-six role. 

He even spent time with Hischier and Jack Hughes on the top line on occasion. In particular, Gritsyuk excelled in 5-on-5 scenarios, with 26 points and an on-ice rate of 67.66 shot attempts every 60 minutes. Likewise, he made an impact for the Devils’ power play with his deceptive shot and creative playmaking, and fans can expect him to have an even greater role on the man advantage for 2026-27.

Unfortunately, his season ended earlier than expected after undergoing shoulder surgery. But he still made a great first impression in New Jersey, with his combination of physicality, reliable puck possession, and a lethal wrist shot. All things considered, he should definitely be re-signed at some point during the offseason.

Like Nemec, Gritsyuk is also an RFA. His entry-level contract was a one-year deal worth $925,000, so a major raise is on the horizon. The Devils should pursue a bridge deal in this scenario, and a fair AAV range could be somewhere in the range of $3 to $4 million. If he continues to be successful within the next few seasons, it would make sense to consider a longer-term deal down the line. But either way, re-signing Gritsyuk needs to be one of Mehta’s top priorities.

Devils’ Offseason Moving Forward

The next few months should be interesting to watch. Under Mehta’s direction, the Devils have the chance to become serious competitors within the Eastern Conference, so long as their restructure goes smoothly. Who knows what the team will be able to accomplish next season, with adequate depth scoring, a top-six finisher, or an elite wing. Once they acquire those final missing pieces, it won’t be a matter of if they make another postseason appearance, but when.

As always, be sure to keep up with The Hockey Writers for all the latest news and updates as the rest of the offseason plays out.