{"id":546139,"date":"2026-04-07T19:59:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/546139\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T19:59:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:59:22","slug":"devils-captain-nico-hischier-gives-concerning-comments-after-tom-fitzgeralds-firing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/546139\/","title":{"rendered":"Devils captain Nico Hischier gives concerning comments after Tom Fitzgerald’s firing"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New Jersey Devils probably waited too long, but they made the necessary move on Monday night. Now-former GM Tom Fitzgerald was dismissed<\/a>. Whether it was amicable or not doesn\u2019t really matter. It was clear during interviews on Tuesday with the team that the Devils brass feels a sense of responsibility for Fitzgerald\u2019s tenure ending prematurely.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fitzgerald\u2019s hands are all over this roster, spending more than six years as the team\u2019s GM and the past two as President of Hockey Operations. Twenty-five of the players on the roster are currently here because of Tom Fitzgerald. There are only four who remain from the Ray Shero era: Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Arseny Gritsyuk (who was drafted by Shero but signed by Fitzgerald).\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of those players who has seen transition isn\u2019t ready to commit to the next one.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Possibly the biggest decision the next GM must make is how much to pay captain Nico Hischier. He\u2019s part of the team\u2019s one-two punch at center, and he\u2019s largely the one who can stay healthy. The reason for optimism around the Devils is because of the Hughes-Hischier pairing down the middle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How much is a second-line center worth? Well, Leon Draisaitl shows that the limit does not exist. Hischier is largely expected to get an extension that moves him past eight digits per season. Can the Devils, who are in a cap crunch every year, afford to go past $10 million per season for Hischier?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a question for the offseason. With one season left on his deal, Hischier is eligible to sign a new deal on July 1st. This is also the only time the Devils can sign him to an eight-year deal, as those limits change in September per the new Collective Bargaining Agreement<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When he spoke to the media, Hischier had interesting comments about the Fitzgerald era and moving forward. When asked about his contract status, Hischier gave a non-committal answer.<\/p>\n

Nico Hischier on if Tom Fitzgerald being out as GM changes anything about his future. He\u2019s eligible to sign extension on July 1. UFA in 2027.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m focusing on playing hockey here. I still have one more year. So I\u2019m with the Devils right now and then we\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d\ud83d\ude2c pic.twitter.com\/vjNJjPbDT3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Most are trying to take a \u201cglass half full\u201d approach to this quote, and we understand why. There\u2019s not a ton there to go off of, but the tone is important there. There was a sense of purpose to the words used here. Hischier could have easily said that he loves New Jersey and wants to let the process play out.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t say that. He said what he said, which was basically that he has one more year left and then we\u2019ll see.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That puts the Devils, and more important, a new front office in a very awkward position. If their captain and one of their key pieces is willing to walk to unrestricted free agency, the Devils might have to trade him before next season. It\u2019s not worthwhile to keep him on the roster just for one run to a Stanley Cup when this core hasn\u2019t come close.<\/p>\n

However, that\u2019s a jump. He might just want to make sure ownership doesn\u2019t hire Peter Chiarelli to be GM. Hischier has the right to wait until leadership is in place before committing to his team. Still, the quote is not what Devils fans wanted to hear after Fitzgerald\u2019s firing.\u00a0<\/p>\n